Manchester City’s transfer stance on first-team star questioned after Tottenham and Brighton losses | OneFootball

Manchester City’s decision to allow Manuel Akanji join Inter Milan on loan for the 2025-26 campaign has come under question in the Italian media.

Akanji completed an eleventh hour loan move to the Serie A in the recent window as doubts emerged on the prospects of regular minutes for the Switzerland international at the Etihad Stadium this term.

Having joined Manchester City on the final day of the 2022 summer transfer window from Borussia Dortmund, Akanji played a key role in his side’s run to a historic treble in his debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium.

The 30-year-old played a crucial pass slicing open the Inter Milan defence in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final, leading to Rodri’s 68th minute winner. Akanji was also a regular fixture for Guardiola in Manchester City’s 2023-24 Premier League title run-in.

However, the recent transfer window has seen Manchester City conduct a thorough revamp of their first-team squad and after years of dominating English football, the board have parted ways with several senior stars who were integral to the club’s success under Guardiola.

Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Ilkay Gundogan, James McAtee and Scott Carson all left permanently in the summer, with Jack Grealish (Everton) and Akanji (Inter Milan) heading out on loan for the season to boost their prospects for their respective nations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

City endured a difficult personnel crisis amid their most challenging season under Guardiola last term, with all of Akanji, Ruben Dias, John Stones and Nathan Ake serving time on the sidelines, forcing the club to bring in emergency reinforcements in January.

Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis were brought in mid-season to alleviate Guardiola’s growing worries at centre-half, with City recovering from their early season slump to secure a respectable yet unsatisfactory third-place Premier League finish with 71 points – their lowest points tally in the league under Guardiola.

With Hugo Viana orchestrating a change of guard since stepping in as Manchester City’s sporting director this summer, Akanji mulled on his short-term future at the Etihad Stadium amid interest from a host of clubs in England and abroad.

Having joined Inter Milan on a season-long loan, the Swiss centre-half is still competing in the UEFA Champions League and can solidify himself as a guaranteed starter for his nation at the upcoming FIFA World Cup. However, there have been questions raised on why Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola allowed the former Dortmund man leave in the recent window.

Speaking to Radio 24 this week, journalist Pierluigi Pardo said: “I think Inter (Milan) have strengthened but it remains to be seen whether they’ve strengthened enough,” as quoted by Tuttomercatoweb and relayed by Sport Witness.

“There’s definitely something extra up front, especially in terms of attack. Akanji? I don’t understand why Manchester City let him go but good for Inter. The team hasn’t weakened even though Napoli has built a strong defence.”

Inter Milan can sign Akanji on a permanent €15 million deal next summer should they win the 2025-26 Serie A title and the on-loan Manchester City star features in over 50% of the Italian outfit’s games over the course of the campaign.