Who is Manuel Akanji: Inter Milan’s last-minute shot to replace Pavard
L’Inter welcomes Manuel Akanji: the Swiss defender, the Nerazzurri’s latest market coup, arrives from Manchester City on an onerous loan for 1 million euros, with redemption set at 15 million, obligatory only if Inter wins the Scudetto. The Swiss national will take the place of Benjamin Pavard, who will return to France, to Marseille: the Blue player leaves on loan with the right of redemption set at 15 million.
Akanji undoubtedly adds international experience and charisma to the Nerazzurri rearguard. A massive central defender 188 centimeters tall, he grew up footballingly in Winterthur, where he made his professional debut at the age of 18.
In 2015, the move to Basel, then from 2018 to 2022 he finally exploded at the international level at Borussia Dortmund, winning a German Cup. In 2022, the move to Guardiola’s court, where he immediately earned the starting spot, winning in three years two championships, an FA Cup and a Champions League, overcoming in the final precisely Inter.
His experience at the national team level is also substantial: he played 71 games with Switzerland, participating in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and the 2020 and 2024 European Championships.
