Inter Milan signing Akanji: Difficult realising I'm no longer part of Man City

Inter Milan signing Akanji: Difficult realising I'm no longer part of Man City

Inter Milan loan signing Manuel Akanji admits he left Manchester City convinced he wouldn't be playing consistently this season.

The Switzerland international has joined Inter on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

Asked why he chose to leave City, Akanji said from the Swiss training base: "He (City manager Pep Guardiola) made it clear to us six central defenders that two would play and two would be on the bench. And that it would be difficult for the rest.

"That wasn't nice to hear, because I always expect to be on the pitch."

Asked why Guardiola had pushed him down the selection order, Akanji answered: "You'll have to ask him."

Akanji also admitted: "It's still difficult to realise right now that I'm suddenly no longer part of the City family, although I still feel like I am somehow.

"Also because I didn't meet any of my new team-mates in Milan on Monday, as everything happened so quickly and there was no training. My family and I have felt very comfortable in Manchester, and we will definitely miss life there."