Manuel Akanji revealed Thiago Silva as his role model and explained why swapping Manchester City for Inter felt like the simplest decision.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Swiss international joined the Serie A side on loan from City with a conditional obligation to buy at the end of the season. The 30-year-old arrives with pedigree, having won multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League under Pep Guardiola at City, and is expected to provide stability and experience at the back for Cristian Chivu’s side. His move is seen as a significant upgrade to Inter’s defence as they look to challenge for the Scudetto and go deep in Europe again. 

AdvertisementAFPWHAT AKANJI SAID

Akanji was open about his inspirations and his motivation for joining Inter while discussing about his admiration for ex-AC Milan & Chelsea star Silva, telling reporters: "As a child, I liked Raul, the Real Madrid striker, then as a defender I always admired Thiago Silva. I followed him throughout his extraordinary career. He played in different leagues and always maintained a high level. So I think he was one of my favourite defenders."

On his decision to join Inter, he added: "Because it's one of the best clubs in Europe, nothing could be simpler. As for the objectives, it's difficult to talk about them because I've only just met my new teammates. I'm not sure what the expectations are, but obviously winning the league, always. When you play for Inter, all of this is normal. And the Champions League too. They came so close, I hope to help them achieve that goal this year."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Akanji’s switch from City to Inter underlines the Nerazzurri’s growing appeal to elite-level players. After reaching the Champions League final in last season and finishing second in Serie A, Inter are cementing themselves as a genuine powerhouse in Europe.

The ex-Borussia Dortmund player will likely make his debut against Juventus this weekend in the first Derby d'Italia of the season.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR INTER AND AKANJI?

Juve have begun the season with two wins from two, while Inter have already slipped once against Udinese, meaning the stakes are high for this early-season battle. A strong performance from Akanji could immediately endear him to Inter fans and underline his status as a cornerstone in their defensive setup.

Longer term, Akanji will be judged on whether he can help Inter reclaim the Scudetto and push for Champions League glory, objectives he himself has already embraced as “normal” at a club of Inter’s stature.