Manuel Akanji has disclosed that he had the opportunity to sign with AC Milan over the summer transfer window, but expressed his satisfaction with his decision to join Inter Milan. The defender is now aiming to achieve a remarkable cup double in his debut season with the Nerazzurri, stating, “It would be incredible to win two titles in my first year.”
Akanji and his Inter teammates are currently enjoying a significant 12-point lead at the top of Serie A with only five matches remaining, potentially securing the Scudetto this coming weekend. Prior to that, Inter faces Como in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final at San Siro. The tie is currently level at 0-0 heading into the second leg, as Inter pursues an impressive cup double in Cristian Chivu’s first full season as head coach.
While Akanji feels that winning these trophies is a matter of “if and when,” he acknowledges that overcoming Como in the Coppa Italia semi-final will not be a straightforward task, even with home advantage.
Akanji on Joining Inter, Chivu’s Coaching, and Cup Ambitions
In an interview with Sport Mediaset ahead of the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg, Akanji discussed his choice to move to Inter from Manchester City over Milan.
“The team and coach made it very easy for me to fit in,” Akanji stated. “I feel very comfortable playing here in both positions, either in the middle or on the right of the back three. I’ve had a really good season, and we’ll try to finish on a high note.”
“I spoke with Milan in the summer, but I thought Inter was a more suitable destination for me, and I would say that my choice has worked out. My agent negotiated with the club, and it was better for me to come here.”
Akanji is currently on loan at Inter with an option to buy, which reports suggest may become an obligation if Inter wins the Scudetto. However, the player is choosing to defer discussions about his future.
“If and when we win these trophies, the time will also come to sit down and decide how to move forward. I feel good here, but I don’t think it’s the right time to talk about it. It will come soon, but I’m focused on playing well at the moment.”
Akanji has been impressed by Cristian Chivu’s coaching in his debut season at Inter, noting Chivu’s positive impact and support during challenging periods.
“Whether you’re a player or a coach, there’s always something to learn. I think Chivu has managed this season brilliantly; he’s always brought a positive atmosphere and has tried to help us through the difficult moments. It’s not easy at all in a season like this, with so many obstacles you can encounter. He’s fought hard with us and has always been on our side.”
When asked about teammate Alessandro Bastoni, who has been linked with a summer move to Barcelona, Akanji commented:
“I understand he’s a big topic in Italy. In every interview I do, they ask me about Bastoni. Maybe it would be better to ask him about his future. All I can say is that I get on very well with him. He’s a great teammate, and I’d be happy if he stayed.”
Inter is on the brink of securing their 21st league title and could have it mathematically confirmed this weekend. If not, they will have four more opportunities to achieve this milestone.
“We have a good advantage in Serie A, 12 points over Milan and Napoli with only five games left. It’s a great situation, but the Coppa Italia is another matter,” Akanji said. “We don’t start with any advantage, except perhaps playing at home. It’s a semi-final, and Como will come to Milan convinced, trying to do their best. But we want to reach the final and deliver our best performance.”
Akanji believes Inter has faced three distinct challenges against Como this season.
“I’m always a bit unsure of what to expect. We want to reach the final and give our best performance because you never know. Playing against Como is always complicated. The three games we’ve had against them have always been different. The first was a great performance for us; we won 4-0 at home. In the second, the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final, neither side wanted to take risks. In the last league game against Como, it was an open game where we found ourselves 2-0 down, and it didn’t seem like an easy situation. We managed to recover and scored four goals in a row, then they scored a penalty and had a great opportunity to equalize. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
“It would be incredible to win two titles in my first year. We’re trying to achieve the Coppa Italia double. Obviously, we hoped to go further in the Champions League. We tried, but it would still be great to win these two titles.”
