Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has rejected a move to AC Milan this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Milan submitted an offer to City for the 30-year-old and were trying to agree on personal terms, but he has not accepted the move to Italy.
Akanji wants to play UEFA Champions League football this season if he leaves Manchester City.
Milan cannot offer that after an insipid 2024/25 campaign, in which the 19-time Italian champions finished ninth.
The Rossoneri didn’t even secure a spot in the Europa League or Conference League, making the destination unattractive to the Swiss international.
Akanji has interest from other clubs like Galatasaray and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Super Lig champions were the most serious about acquiring him at one point, but he rebuffed them.
Spurs are also in the race to sign the former Borussia Dortmund centre-back, but it remains to be seen if he can disrupt the established pairing of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
Milan would have been the best destination for Akanji, considering they are not only looking for a central defender but one with his specific characteristics.
New Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri is using three central defenders, and Akanji would be perfect for the Libero role, flanked by aggressive partners like Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic.
While Milan academy graduate Matteo Gabbia has filled the position for now, Akanji would be a massive upgrade on the 25-year-old.
Akanji is a brilliant reader of the game and would be adept at mopping up the danger behind his two centre-halves.
However, Milan have not been able to convince him to make the switch. A better financial proposal may persuade him.
Staying at City is not an option as he will find himself behind Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake, and Abdukodir Khusanov in Pep Guardiola’s pecking order.
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