How Ralf Rangnick wanted to sign Manuel Akanji
Karan Tejwani
- 27 Sept 2022 11:50 BST
- 3 min read
Manuel Akanji joined Manchester City in the final days of the summer transfer window, but he could well have been a Manchester United player before that.
Manchester United were eager to improve their defence and had targets such as Jurrien Timber and Pau Torres before signing Lisandro Martinez from Ajax for a big fee.
Manchester City’s move for Akanji came as a slight surprise – they had no plans to sign a defender until the final days and they were then quick to move for the Swiss defender.
Akanji was of heavy interest to Manchester United, and had it not been for Ralf Rangnick leaving, he could well have been playing on the other side of Manchester.
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Man Utd could've signed Akanji
Rangnick has often talked about signings he wanted to make at Manchester United, even when he was at the club, and those ideas were often vetoed.
In April, he spoke about the attacking signings he wanted to make at the club, with the likes of Luis Diaz and Dusan Vlahovic targeted, both of whom moved clubs in the January transfer window.
Akanji is another one on that list, as Rangnick was a keen admirer of the defender’s talents and wanted to bring him in to bolster the side.
According to Fabrizio Romano, that move broke down as Rangnick left the club: “This summer, Manuel Akanji was also an option for Manchester United’s defence.
Manuel Akanji vs Spain:
1 Goal
1 Assist
54 Touches
31 Accurate passes
75.6% Pass accuracy
5 Clearances
5 Accurate long balls
2 Key passes
2 Ground duels won
1 Tackle
1 Interception
1 Aerial duel won pic.twitter.com/YqP0ETA7BG— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) September 24, 2022
“However, it didn’t happen because he was mainly 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 after Erik ten Hag joined and the pair didn’t get to work together, as the German manager took the reins at the Austrian national team.
Akanji, meanwhile, has had a good start to life at Manchester City, and could have a key role to play in the coming weeks as John Stones has picked up an injury.
