Suspended Bayer Leverkusen star Hakan Calhanoglu has denied reports that he wants to join Chelsea, dismissing reportsthat he had made a comment about his future earlier this week.
The Turkish international - who is currentlycurrently serving a four-month suspension following abreach of contract earlier in his career- is reported to have said that he"will be a Chelsea player next season" by Fanatik.
While the quote set tongues wagging, the player came out on Twitter on Monday night to state the quote was completely fabricated.
I said nothing about Chelsea in the press & didn't talk to any Turkish journalist - neither about the court decision nor about my future!
He said:"I said nothing about Chelsea in the press and did not talk to any Turkish journalist - neither about the court decision nor about my future!"
The initial reports had said that the player confirmed he was interesting a number of big clubs, but that the Premier League leaders were his number one choice. The quote, in full, read:"God willing, I will be a Chelsea player next season. There are also a number of other clubs interested in signing me."
A highly-rated attacking midfielder, Calhanoglu is one of the continent's topdead ball specialists, and prior to his ban he had made a significant impression in the current campaign, notchingseven assists and seven goals in 21 appearances.
His ban, announced last week, is a bizarre one. Calhanoglu wasdisciplined for a breach of contract when, while playing for Karlsruhe, he was paid €100k after agreeing to sign for Turkish side Trabzonspor.
However, despite the agreement, he extended his contract with Karlsruhe before signing for Hamburg.
The incident occurred when the now 22-year-old was 17, but football's governing body has only recently made a decision on the matter and it means the player will be unable to play through the rest of the season.
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