## A Statistical Overview of Hakan Çalhanoğlu's Assists at Inter Milan
When Hakan Çalhanoğlu joined Inter Milan in July 2021, he arrived as a creative force expected to unlock defences with his vision and dead-ball expertise. Over his three seasons in Nerazzurri colors (2021-2024), he delivered precisely that, cementing himself as one of Serie A's most potent playmakers through his crucial contribution: **assists**. Let's break down his impact statistically.
* **Total Creative Influence:** Across all competitions during his tenure, Çalhanoğlu registered an impressive tally of **29 assists**. This figure highlights his primary role as a goal-creating midfielder. Crucially, these weren't just opportunistic moments; they consistently came from open play or set pieces, reflecting his technical skill in delivering dangerous final balls.
* **League Dominance (Serie A):** The vast majority came in Italy's top flight. He provided **21 assists in Serie A alone**. This placed him among the league leaders for creators during each season he played. Notably, in the historic Treble-winning campaign of 2023/24 under Simone Inzaghi, he supplied **7 assists**, directly contributing to vital goals that propelled Inter towards their scudetto triumph.
* **European Pedigree & Cup Runs:** His creativity extended beyond domestic boundaries. He added **4 assists in the UEFA Champions League**, showcasing his quality against Europe's elite defenders. Furthermore, he proved equally effective in domestic cup competitions, notching **4 assists in the Coppa Italia** – including one in the famous derby against AC Milan.
Beyond raw numbers, context matters. Many of these assists originated from trademark free kicks whipped into the box, corner kick deliveries finding teammates like Martinez or Dzeko unmarked, and threaded through-balls exploiting gaps between lines. His ability to dictate tempo, draw fouls (winning valuable free kicks), and link midfield to attack made him instrumental.
While goals occasionally flew in himself (his signature whipped finishes from distance remain memorable), it was his capacity to orchestrate chances for others that defined his Inter Milan prime. Those **29 assists** across all competitions stand as a testament to his role as the architect of numerous vital goals, particularly vital during the club's most successful recent period under Inzaghi. They solidify him as one of the key creative forces behind their Treble victory.