Akanji on Guiding Stones at Inter: He Can Do Everything
The move from the Premier League to Serie A tests even the most polished defenders. The pace is different, the angles are different, the demands on positioning relentless. Dropping into Cristian Chivu’s preferred system only sharpens that tactical edge.
John Stones has already offered a glimpse of what he can bring, scoring in a pre-season friendly against Real Betis. But the real work, the daily grind of reshaping habits learned in a back four into Inter’s intricate defensive structure, is only just beginning. Manuel Akanji knows that journey well. He lived it last year.
“Physically, you come from the Premier League already very well-prepared. Tactically, however, it's different,” Akanji told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I played with Stones at City in a back four, and I had to adapt. For me, it happened quite quickly, and I know John: he can do everything and he won't have any problems either. Obviously, he'll need help from his teammates and staff, but he's ended up in the right place.”
From Manchester to Milan: a familiar face in a new world
At 31, Akanji has become more than just a pillar in Inter’s defence. He is now the bridge between Stones’ past at Manchester City and his present in Milan. Their bond from England has carried over, only now it comes with extra responsibility.
The Swiss defender has taken it upon himself to oversee Stones’ integration, on and off the pitch. Guide. Translator. Friend. Those roles matter as much as any tactical briefing when a player drops into the intensity of Italian football and the rhythms of a new city.
The way their reunion was foreshadowed belongs more to holiday gossip than transfer strategy. “It was funny because just a few hours before his arrival was confirmed, my wife and I met his wife on the beach in Ibiza. Pure coincidence,” Akanji revealed. “We’re friends, and we’ve been on holidays together, and she told us: ‘I think we’ll end up coming…’ A few hours later, at home, I saw John’s message.”
From there, the mentorship began in earnest. “Now I’m trying to introduce him to Inter. I explain everything to him; I try to translate; the other day I even took him to a restaurant. But he’s a great lad; he’ll adapt quickly.”
Inter’s defensive armoury thickens
Stones is not the only reinforcement. Inter’s backline looks stacked again, with Benjamin Pavard returning from his loan spell at Marseille and rejoining the competition for minutes. For Akanji, this is not a complication. It is the requirement for a team with Champions League ambitions.
“That’s exactly what we need to compete not only in Italy but also in the Champions League,” he said. “We have a formidable defence, among the best, and a great squad: in every position, there are at least two excellent players. Now we need to integrate the new players into the system, but the competition in training will be high, which will improve everyone.”
The message is clear: no comfort zones, not at Appiano Gentile. Every session counts, every duel in training pushes the standard up another notch.
New season, new look, same hunger
Akanji used the summer to reset. Not just his legs, but his head. He even turned up with a new hairstyle for the coming campaign, a small but visible sign of a fresh start. The body, he insists, feels as sharp as ever.
“I don’t think it will take long to get back to 100%, because I was on holiday for three weeks and, as I normally do, I continued to train,” he explained. “Initially, I did a lot of running and gym work, and since my teammates returned from the tour, we’ve been working together on the pitch.”
The countdown now leads to Monza and the opening day of Serie A. No easing in, no gentle introduction.
“Now I can’t wait to get serious with Monza: another season is a new beginning,” he concluded.
For Stones, that beginning means learning a new defensive language with an old friend at his side. For Inter, it means trusting that this depth, this internal rivalry, can finally carry them from domestic strength to European glory.
