Manuel Akanji has spoken candidly about his Nigerian roots, admitting he still carries his father’s homeland with him despite pledging his international future to Switzerland, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 30-year-old centre-back, now on loan at Inter Milan from Manchester City, revealed the pride he feels in his dual identity during a wide-ranging interview with Inter TV.
Born in Wiesendangen to a Swiss mother and a Nigerian father, Akanji said his bond with the West African nation remains strong, even though he chose to represent Switzerland in 2017 after coming through the youth ranks at Winterthur, Basel, and later Borussia Dortmund.
“This is the eagle, from the Nigerian national team, with the football under it. It’s something I carry with me,” he said, pointing to the tattoo on his left arm.
“Obviously, I play for the Swiss national team, but I’m still really proud of being Nigerian. I could only make one decision, but they are still with me all the way.”
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The eagle, a direct nod to the Super Eagles of Nigeria, is more than body art. It reflects a connection rooted in childhood visits to Nigeria, where Akanji spent time with family before his career made travel difficult.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been back to Nigeria,” he explained.
“It’s hard for me to go back because I don’t have a break in the winter, and summer is the rainy season, so you never really know what you’re going to get, but when I was young, I went there three or four times.”
While international allegiance was settled years ago, Akanji insists the decision never diluted his heritage.
More than 70 caps later for Switzerland, he remains one of Europe’s most reliable defenders, balancing technical calmness with tactical intelligence.
Now settling into life at San Siro, Akanji has quickly established himself as a regular for Inter. He has made five appearances across Serie A and the Champions League, helping Simone Inzaghi’s side maintain momentum in Europe even if their domestic form has been patchy.
Inter, unbeaten in Europe so far, will lean on Akanji’s experience as they seek to recover ground in Serie A.