Manuel Akanji switched from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City shortly before the transfer deadline for 17.5 million euros. Citizens team manager Pep Guardiola raved about the ex-BVB professional.
“Very good, we are very happy with him,” said Pep Guardiola at a press conference ahead of the Champions League game against FC Copenhagen.
The former Bayern Munich coach is particularly fond of Akanji as a person. “He’s incredibly educated. His performance on the pitch speaks for itself,” Guardiola praised the Swiss international.
There were also words of praise for Akanji from Oasis frontman and ManCity noble fan Liam Gallagher. After the Sky Blues beat Manchester United 6-3 in last weekend’s derby, the music star tweeted: “Respect to Akanji, the new company.”
The Belgian club icon played for Manchester City from 2008 to 2019 and won four English championships with the Citizens.
Other Twitter users also raved about Akanji’s performance against the Red Devils: “15m pounds for Akanji is not a bargain but a complete robbery.”
At Manchester City, Akanji has played over 90 minutes in the last two Premier League games. He also completed the two previous duels in the Champions League over the full distance.
Akanji steps up against BVB
After his move to the Premier League, Akanji followed up against BVB. In Dortmund, “things were said about me that were simply not true,” he said in “Blick”. He said he “never talked about numbers with BVB. It was never about the money. I thought it was crazy that I was accused of it out of nowhere.”
Sports director Sebastian Kehl then made it clear that Borussia Dortmund “would have liked to have extended Manuel” but it was the 27-year-old’s decision not to extend the contract.
Since Manuel Akanji had communicated this early on, the Revierklub was able to sign two new preferred defenders in Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck in good time. “Nevertheless, I would have spared myself the statements that came afterwards,” said Kehl.