‘He openly told us it would not be easy’ — Akanji reveals why he dumped Guardiola and Man City

Manuel Akanji has finally lifted the lid on why he left Manchester City for Inter Milan on deadline day, revealing Pep Guardiola’s honesty about limited opportunities pushed him towards a Serie A adventure.

The Swiss defender, who joined Inter on loan with a €2 million fee and a potential €15 million buy option, admitted the competition in City’s backline made his future at the Etihad uncertain.

Speaking on international duty with Switzerland, Akanji explained that Guardiola’s words left no illusions about his situation.

“There were six central defenders in the squad, he \[Pep Guardiola] openly told us it would not be easy for anyone to have regular playing time. And that was the case,” the 30-year-old revealed.

With Ruben Dias, John Stones, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Aké, and even youngster Abdukodir Khusanov ahead in the pecking order, Akanji knew minutes would be scarce.

He admitted the scenario was “not ideal” but accepted that competition was fierce at a club constantly fighting on multiple fronts.

Inter swooped in to secure Akanji on loan, structuring a deal that only forces them to buy if two tough conditions are met: the Nerazzurri must win Serie A and Akanji must feature in at least half of their matches.

For the Italian champions, it is a calculated risk; for City, it temporarily eases their defensive logjam. Yet questions linger over Guardiola’s depth should injuries strike during the demanding Premier League and Champions League campaigns.

For Akanji, the move offers the chance to reboot his career in a new environment, and if he thrives under Inter’s setup, City could be waving goodbye permanently next summer.