Inter Milan defender Manuel Akanji has revealed the reason behind the Super Eagles tattoo on his arm, saying it is a symbol of pride in his Nigerian heritage.
The 30-year-old Switzerland international, born in Wiesendangen to a Swiss mother and Nigerian father, carries an eagle tattoo representing the Nigerian national team.
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“This is the eagle, from the Nigerian national team, with the football under it. It’s something I carry with me,” Akanji told Inter TV. “Obviously, I play for the Swiss national team, but I’m still really proud of being Nigerian.”
The centre-back, who joined Inter on loan from Manchester City last summer with an obligation to buy, also recalled visiting Nigeria several times as a child.
Though his career path led him to represent Switzerland, Akanji admitted his father’s homeland remains close to his heart.
Looking back at his first game at San Siro when he featured for Borussia Dortmund against Inter, Akanji described the atmosphere as “unbelievable” and said he cannot wait to experience it again as a Nerazzurri player.
He further revealed that his first football jersey was that of Inter legend Christian Vieri, explaining that he always admired the club even before arriving in Milan.
“Even if I wasn’t an Inter fan, I always followed Inter because they were one of the best teams in Italy.”
“Now I’m here, and I’m really happy. I want to win as many titles as possible and keep improving as a player and person.”
Since arriving at the club, Akanji has quickly become a regular, making five appearances across all competitions.
Inter remain unbeaten in the Champions League with two wins, though their domestic form has been mixed with nine points from their first five Serie A fixtures.
