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Manchester City centre-back Manuel Akanji is spending this season on loan at Inter Milan and he is ready to make that move permanent.
Manuel Akanji has made it clear he wants to stay at Inter Milan beyond the end of his loan spell, regardless of whether the clauses are met to make the switch permanent.
The 30-year-old joined the Serie A giants on loan at the end of the transfer window and has quickly settled into life in Milan, playing every minute of their last nine league fixtures and featuring in all four Champions League games.
Akanji was expected to struggle for minutes at Manchester City this season and after the club's recruitment drive in 2025, they needed to offload players towards the end of the window.
Several clubs were keen to sign Akanji, but the Switzerland international wanted the move to last season's beaten Champions League finalists, and it could become permanent, regardless of what happens in the summer.
Inter have the option to sign Akanji for €15million, with that option becoming an obligation to buy if they win Serie A and he plays 50% of their league minutes. The centre-back is well on course to meet that target and Inter lead a congested table on goal difference from Roma.
Akanji joined Inter at the start of September's international break and has since returned to Manchester to say goodbye to his former teammates, and he is already eyeing up a permanent stay at the San Siro.
“When I left Manchester City, I organised a farewell dinner, it was really nice,” he said. “I haven’t been able to say goodbye to all the staff yet, but who knows what will happen next summer. As things stand, I’d love to stay at Inter.”
Akanji has clearly made an impressive start with Inter and could play a key role for the Nerazzurri in what looks like being a thrilling title race.
“I feel very good. The hardest part of settling in was sorting everything out for the kids, but we’re comfortable now," he said.
"Italian football is a bit different from the English game, but I’ve adapted well, it helps when you play regularly. The team welcomed me warmly, things are going great, we’re top of the table and we want to stay there.”
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