Following Inter's 2-0 loss to Fluminense at Bank of America on 30/6, Martinez criticized his teammates, suggesting those who didn't want to stay at the club should leave. Inter's president, Beppe Marotta, confirmed the Argentine forward was referring to Calhanoglu, who is reportedly in talks with Galatasaray.

On the morning of 1/7, Gundogdu posted a message directed at Martinez on her Instagram Story. "Some people aren't loyal to you. They are loyal to their need of you," she wrote. "Once their needs change, so does their loyalty. Don’t regret having a good heart, Hakan. Everything good will come back and multiply."

Lautaro Martinez (right) celebrates with Hakan Calhanoglu after Inter's 2-0 victory over Torino at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, Milan, Italy on 27/4/2024. _Photo: EFE_

Calhanoglu then issued a statement on Instagram in three languages: Italian, Turkish, and English. The 31-year-old midfielder explained he was injured after the Champions League final but still traveled to the US to support his teammates. He sustained another injury, a muscle tear, in the past two weeks, preventing him from playing in the tournament. "There is no other reason," he emphasized.

"Yesterday we lost, and it hurts," Calhanoglu wrote about the defeat against Fluminense. "I am sad, not only as a player but also as someone who really cares about this team. Despite being injured, I called some of my teammates immediately after the game to lift their spirits. It’s what you do when you care."

The Turkish midfielder also addressed Martinez's harsh words. "What surprised me more than anything were the words that followed. Words that hurt. Words that divide rather than unite," he continued. "In my career I’ve never looked for excuses. I always take responsibility. I played even when I was hurt, I led the team especially in difficult moments, not with words but with actions."

Calhanoglu played for AC Milan from 2017 to 2021 and has been with Inter Milan for the past 4 years. He asserted he has never betrayed the club nor said he was unhappy at Inter.

"There have been very attractive offers in the past. But I stayed because deep down I knew what this shirt meant to me, and I believe my actions have spoken for themselves," Calhanoglu expressed. "I love this club. What the future holds, we shall see. But history remembers those who stand tall, not those who shout the loudest."

According to Calciomercato, the only Inter player who liked Calhanoglu's post was forward Marcus Thuram. The Italian newspaper interpreted Thuram's action as a sign of a "major rift" in the locker room. The post also received likes from Gaia Lucariello, wife of former coach Simone Inzaghi, and former Inter player Marko Arnautovic.

On Sky Sport, Roma and Italian football legend Francesco Totti suggested Martinez chose the wrong time to attack Calhanoglu. "Only they know the internal problems of the team that led to this," the 48-year-old former striker commented. "Not only the captain but also the president of the club spoke out. When everyone is against one player, it becomes difficult, and above all, not very pleasant for Inter fans."

Inter experienced a turbulent second half of the season. From aiming for a quadruple, they won no titles, losing the Italian Super Cup final, being eliminated in the Italian Cup semi-final, losing the Serie A title to Napoli, suffering a 5-0 defeat to PSG in the Champions League final, and exiting the FIFA Club World Cup early.

Hong Duy (_Via Football Italy, Calciomercato_)