Manuel Akanji sends message to doubters after detailing whirlwind Man City transfer

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

It wasn't that Manu Akanji's phone wasn't ringing in summer, he just wasn't getting the call that he wanted.

The 27-year-old received plenty of offers in a transfer window where he was seeking a fresh challenge — including from the Premier League as Leicester City showed interest when Chelsea moved for Wesley Fofana — yet with less than a week to go before deadline day the defender was gearing up to see out the final year of his contract in the Bundesliga. Then Manchester City appeared on the other end of the line and sparked a whirlwind of activity, uprooting Akanji to a new city and league and seeing him make his debut for the Premier League champions in their opening Champions League game all in the space of about 10 days.

City made a late, unexpected move for the Dortmund centre-back after injury to Nathan Ake made them reflect on the problems they have in the position, with Aymeric Laporte out until October at the earliest. The £15.1m decision already looks justified; Akanji missed the weekend game at Aston Villa to be with his wife for the birth of the second child but before he had completed two sessions after his move Kyle Walker and John Stones had also been sidelined, leading to his start against Sevilla.

Also read: Pep Guardiola compares Manuel Akanji debut to Man City teammate

Txiki Begiristain and the club do not commit their money to stop-gap signings though. Akanji has been given a five-year deal at the Etihad and — just like former teammate Erling Haaland has done — is determined to prove to everyone who knows him that he has not moved to the Etihad simply to make up the numbers.

"I feel like it’s big news [back in Switzerland]. I have not been there yet since the signing, but Man City is one of the