The Swiss player arrived on loan with an option to buy set at €15 million, but if the Nerazzurri win the title, the obligation to buy would be triggered immediately.

For Manuel Akanji, the Scudetto is worth double. The first reason is simple: to win in Italy too. So far, he has lifted trophies in every country he has played in: Switzerland, Germany, and England. Cups with Basel, others with Borussia Dortmund, and the treble with City. Winning in Italy would mean adding another trophy to his collection and also staying in Serie A. Inter signed him on loan from Manchester with an option to buy set at €15 million. However, if Inter win the Scudetto, the option would become permanent without going through the English club. It is one of the conditions linked to the formula implemented by Ausilio and Marotta in the summer.

Inter’s intention, however, is to buy him outright anyway. Akanji has been impeccable so far. Six months as an added Swiss Army knife, a bit of a wing-back and a bit of a center-back, extremely reliable. Sports Prediction average rating of 6 (with three yellow cards), 13 appearances out of 13 as a starter in the league and all for 90 minutes. Chivu has never substituted him. He has only been on the bench against Bologna in the Super Cup and Venezia in the Coppa Italia, playing three out of six Champions League games from the start. In Serie A, he ranks fourth among center backs for passes completed per 90 minutes (61.6 per game) and second at Inter for duels won (50). He is a certainty that is almost never given up. This is also because the Swiss player, who is set to play in his third World Cup in the summer, can play both wide and in the middle of the defense. It is a dual role that the Nerazzurri coach has relied on on several occasions. That’s why the Nerazzurri’s top brass are keen to sign him permanently. Akanji is approaching 31, but he has experience on his side: “I hope to stay here,” he said a month ago, “let’s see what happens this season, then we’ll decide what to do with the club. I’m very happy in Milan right now.” Inter are also happy with him.