Inter defender Manuel Akanji has acknowledged holding past transfer discussions with AC Milan before ultimately joining their city rivals, while emphasizing his current focus on securing a domestic double with the Nerazzurri. The Swiss international made the comments in an interview with SportMediaset ahead of Inter's Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Como.
Akanji, who joined Inter from Manchester City last summer, was asked about his future amid the club's successful season. "I spoke with Milan, but I would say that Inter..." Akanji stated, leaving the sentence unfinished but clearly indicating his path led him to the blue and black side of Milan. According to reports from the time of his transfer, Inter secured Akanji's services for a fee in the region of €25 million, with the player signing a four-year contract.
The 30-year-old centre-back has been a mainstay in Simone Inzaghi's defence this season, forming a formidable partnership with Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi. His arrival provided crucial experience and stability following the departures of Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij, helping Inter build a commanding twelve-point lead at the top of Serie A with just five matches remaining.
When pressed on the possibility of winning both the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia in his debut campaign, Akanji was emphatic. "It would be incredible to win two titles in my first year," he said. "We are trying to do the league and cup double. Clearly, we hoped to go further in the Champions League. We tried, yes, but it would still be beautiful to win these two titles." His immediate attention is on navigating past Como to reach the final in Rome, acknowledging the challenge posed by a side Inter has faced three times already this season with mixed results.
The revelation of past talks with Milan adds a new layer to the defender's Serie A narrative, highlighting the competitive nature of the transfer market between the two rivals. For Inter, securing Akanji has proven to be a decisive move, addressing a key area of need with a player familiar with winning major trophies from his time in England and Germany. His adaptation to Italian football has been seamless, contributing to Inter boasting one of the league's best defensive records.
Looking forward, Akanji's commitment to the Inter project is clear, with his performances central to the team's dominant domestic campaign. His comments suggest a player fully invested in the present challenge at San Siro, pushing to cap a strong first season with multiple trophies. The focus for the club now will be to finalize the Scudetto and advance in the cup, with Akanji's role as a defensive leader remaining pivotal in the decisive weeks of the season.
