The bust-up was triggered by captain Lautaro Martinez, who after the match said that anyone who does not want to be at the club should leave.
“Whoever wants to stay, stay; whoever does not want to stay should go,” Martínez told DAZN. “I have seen a lot of things that I didn’t like. I want to win.
“We need players who want to be here. We are wearing an important jersey. We need top mentality or please, leave.”
While Martinez did not name names, Inter Chairman Giuseppe Marotta subsequently said he was referring to Calhanoglu, who has been linked to a move to Galatasaray, adding that the door was wide open for anyone who wants to depart.
Calhanoglu, who did not play in any of Inter’s matches at the Club World Cup due to injury problems, said in a long Instagram post that those comments were “hard words” and “words that divide, not unite”.
“I respect every opinion, including that of a team mate, including that of the chairman,” the 31-year-old said.
“But respect cannot be one-way.
“I’ve learned that the true leader is the one who stays close to his teammates, not the one who looks for someone to blame when it is the easiest thing to do.”
ANSA
