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Inter Milan defender Manuel Akanji couldn’t hide his excitement about the prospect of winning a domestic double in his first season at San Siro.
Speaking to Sport Mediaset via FCInterNews, Akanji also admitted he had held talks with AC Milan before joining the Nerazzurri.
Manuel Akanji joined Inter from Manchester City on loan in the final hours of the last summer transfer window.
Furthermore, the Swiss center-back has immediately established himself as one of the pillars of the Nerazzurri defense.
Indeed, he has made 31 appearances in Serie A this season, forging a formidable defensive partnership with Alessandro Bastoni and Yann Bisseck.
In addition to being on the cusp of their 21st Scudetto, Inter are potentially 90 minutes away from reaching the Coppa Italia final.
Moreover, Akanji is likely to make another start when they take on Como in the return leg of their semi-final tomorrow.
Therefore, it’s no wonder that the runaway Serie A leaders have already decided to activate a €15 million buyout clause in their agreement with Man City.
Inter Milan Star Manuel Akanji Enthusiastic About Winning Domestic Double
“It would be incredible to win two trophies in my first year,” Akanji stated. “We are trying to achieve the Scudetto–Coppa Italia double.
“Clearly, we hoped to go further in the Champions League. We tried, yes, but it would still be wonderful to win these two trophies.
“All the guys and the coach made my integration into the team very easy. I feel very good playing here, in both positions, both centrally and on the right of the back three.
“I have had a really good season,” the Swiss star added. “We will try to finish it in the best way.”
Manuel Akanji Previews Inter Milan vs Como Game
“We have a good advantage in Serie A, twelve points over Milan and Napoli with only five matchdays left,” Akanji said. “It’s an excellent situation, but the Coppa Italia is something else.
“We don’t start with any advantage other than maybe playing at home. It’s a semi-final and Como will come to Milan very confident, trying to give their maximum.
“However, we want to reach the final and deliver our best performance. What do I expect tomorrow? I don’t know, I am always quite uncertain about what to expect. We want to reach the final and deliver our best performance because you never know.
“We try to prepare in the best possible way, but playing against Como is always complicated. The three matches were very different: the first was a great performance from us, we won 4–0 at home.
“In the second, the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final, neither team wanted to take risks. Meanwhile, the last one, in Como in the league, was an open match where we went 2–0 down, and it didn’t seem an easy situation.
“We managed to come back, scoring four goals in a row, then they scored a penalty and had a great chance to equalize. We will see, we will see what happens tomorrow.”
Inter Milan Star Manuel Akanji Comments on AC Milan Talks in the Past & Delivers Alessandro Bastoni Verdict
Akanji had reportedly been on the verge of joining AC Milan before the transfer collapsed at the 11th hour last summer.
Instead, he signed for Inter on deadline day.
“I spoke with Milan in the summer, but I thought Inter was a more suitable destination for me,” Akanji confirmed. “I would say the choice worked out. My agent negotiated with the club, it went well like this.”
“Future? If and when we win these trophies, the time will come to sit down and decide how to move forward.
“I feel very good here, but I don’t think it is the right moment to talk about it. It will come soon, but I am focused on playing well and then we will see.”
“I think Cristian Chivu has managed the team very well this year. He has always created a positive atmosphere and tried to help us in difficult moments.
“It is not easy at all during a season like this, there are many obstacles you can face.
“He has fought hard with us and has always been on our side, trying to give us as much help as possible. It has gone well.”
Finally, he discussed the uncertainty surrounding Bastoni’s future.
“I understand it is a very hot topic in Italy. In every interview I do, I am asked about Bastoni. Maybe it would be better to ask him about his future…
“I can only say that I get along very well with him, he is a great teammate, and I would be happy if he stayed at Inter.”
