Inter Milan midfielder Hakan Çalhanoğlu will soon take the stand in the ongoing ultras investigation, which has sent shockwaves through Italian football, Soccernet.football reports.
As per Milan-based news outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, the Turkish maestro is expected to testify in court, shedding new light on the case.
Currently away on international duty with Turkey, Çalhanoğlu is set to meet with the Milan Mobile Police unit upon his return to Italy.
The hearing is likely to take place next Wednesday or Thursday, following Turkey’s UEFA Nations League match against Iceland on Monday night.
Investigators have identified Çalhanoğlu as a person of interest due to his close relationship with Marco Ferdico, a former leader of Inter’s Curva Nord ultras group.
Ferdico, who was arrested two weeks ago alongside several others, is believed to have ties with the ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate.
Wiretaps revealed that Ferdico had dinner with the 30-year-old Inter midfielder and his family in August 2023.
The investigation further alleges that Çalhanoğlu frequently interacted with Ferdico, providing him with jerseys that were later passed on to Antonio Bellocco.
Bellocco, who was shot dead in early September, was reportedly linked to ‘Ndrangheta, prompting police to delve deeper into the case.
Calhanoglu is not the first Inter figure to testify. Earlier this week, Simone Inzaghi and Javier Zanetti also gave depositions as part of the investigation.
Ivestigators are looking to clarify what contacts there have been between official figures at Inter and the clubs’ ultras in a bid to determine how the club may have partially facilitated the ultras’ activities.