Manuel Akanji joined Manchester City in the closing times of the summertime transfer window, but he could very well have been a Manchester United participant before that.
Manchester United had been keen to boost their defence and experienced targets this sort of as Jurrien Timber and Pau Torres just before signing Lisandro Martinez from Ajax for a big cost.
Manchester City’s move for Akanji came as a slight shock – they experienced no strategies to indication a defender until eventually the final times and they have been then speedy to transfer for the Swiss defender.
Akanji was of heavy interest to Manchester United, and experienced it not been for Ralf Rangnick leaving, he could nicely have been participating in on the other facet of Manchester.
Man Utd could’ve signed Akanji
Rangnick has usually talked about signings he desired to make at Manchester United, even when he was at the club, and people strategies had been usually vetoed.
In April, he spoke about the attacking signings he wished to make at the club, with the likes of Luis Diaz and Dusan Vlahovic focused, equally of whom moved clubs in the January transfer window.
Akanji is one more a single on that listing, as Rangnick was a eager admirer of the defender’s abilities and required to carry him in to bolster the side.
In accordance to Fabrizio Romano, that move broke down as Rangnick left the club: “This summertime, Manuel Akanji was also an alternative for Manchester United’s defence.
Manuel Akanji vs Spain:
1 Goal
1 Assist
54 Touches
31 Accurate passes
75.6% Go accuracy
5 Clearances
5 Exact extensive balls
2 Important passes
2 Floor duels received
1 Tackle
1 Interception
1 Aerial duel received pic.twitter.com/YqP0ETA7BG— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) September 24, 2022
“However, it didn’t come about because he was primarily admired by Ralf Rangnick, who then left his position at Old Trafford. City then moved for him late on in the window.”
Rangnick left the club soon immediately after Erik ten Hag joined and the pair didn’t get to perform with each other, as the German manager took the reins at the Austrian national team.
Akanji, in the meantime, has experienced a fantastic start out to everyday living at Manchester City, and could have a vital job to perform in the coming weeks as John Stones has picked up an damage.
