Manuel Akanji makes stance clear on €15M permanent Inter Milan move amid Manchester City doubts | OneFootball

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has revealed his plans for when he ends his loan spell at Serie A side Inter Milan next summer. 

The Switzerland international has played 136 times under Pep Guardiola in all competitions since his arrival to the Etihad Stadium from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, playing a big part in City’s recent success on the domestic and European fronts.

Akanji played 48 games in City’s historic treble-winning 2022-23 campaign while being an important asset in the unprecedented fourth straight Premier League title win – by doing which the Blues once again made history in the English top-flight.

However, the centre-half decided to join Inter Milan on loan for the 2025-26 campaign in the final week of the summer transfer window to strengthen his playing prospects and guarantee a starting place for the Switzerland National Team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Since his move to Italy, the centre-back has started in every Serie A fixture for the Nerazzurri, who are currently top of the Serie A table – ahead of AS Roma on goal difference after 11 games.

Inter retain a reported €15 million option to make Akanji’s deal permanent and with Manchester City recruiting heavily in the 2025 January and summer transfer windows, it seems like the English club are also planning for the future under new sporting director Hugo Viana.

Speaking on his club future in the recent international break, Akanji has doubled down on his desire to make the transfer permanent when he would be due to return to Manchester City next summer.

“I hope so (to join Inter Milan permanently). We’ll see what happens this season, then we’ll decide what to do with the club,” Akanji told Sportmediaset, as relayed by Tuttomercatoweb and translated by Sport Witness. “I don’t know, it depends on how the season goes, but right now I’m very happy in Milan.”

Inter are challenging on all fronts this season, including the Champions League – where they have Bayern Munich and Arsenal checking over their shoulders after four flawless victories – retaining a 100% record under manager Cristian Chivu in the competition.

Consequently, it comes as no surprise that Akanji wants stay in Italy, with the club having a conditional obligation to buy the defender permanently. It is worth noting however, that the move can only be made permanent if the Swiss star plays 50% of Inter’s games in all competitions this season or helps the Italian giants lift the Scudetto.

Chivu plays with a back three that highlights Akanji’s defensive acumen and ball-playing technique. The on-loan Manchester City man has full praise for his manager, who only started his professional coaching career earlier this year.

“He (Chivu) is still young but I really like how he approaches the team and the staff, the way he communicates with us. I’m really happy with him right now,” Akanji said on the Inter Milan manager.

“Sure, he’s young and still has a lot to learn but he’s had an excellent career and I think he can take inspiration from that from the coaches he’s had. We’ll see how it goes.”

Akanji’s departure from Manchester City in 2026 would narrow the depth of Guardiola’s backline, which could result in the Catalan recalling Vitor Reis to England after the 19-year-old Brazilian defender completes his season on loan at CFG-owned Girona in Spain next summer.