Akanji joins Inter
Manuel Akanji has joined Inter Milan on loan for the season with a view to a £13million permanent move next summer.
The Italian club will pay an initial £870,000 to take the Swiss international to the San Siro.
And he becomes the second of Pep Guardiola’s back five from the 2023 Champions League final triumph to leave the Etihad – in the space of an hour this morning.
Earlier, it was confirmed that long-serving keeper Ederson has joined Fenerbahce after eight years at the club.
And they could be followed out of the exit door by the skipper from that historic night – Ilkay Gundogan – who is in talks with Galatasaray.
Guardiola has repeatedly said over the summer that his squad is too big and he likes to work with a smaller group.
And Swiss international Akanji, 30, has not played any minutes during City’s first three matches of the Prem season.
Prem duo Tottenham and Crystal Palace also showed interest while Galatasaray discussed a move for the former Borussia Dortmund man.
However Inter made their move and Akanji could see the writing was on the wall for him at City with just hours of the deadline remaining.
He was a bargain £15m signing from Dortmund just before the deadline three years ago.
His versatility meant he was a key man as they swept to the treble in his first season.
