Not considered good enough: Sousa did not want Akanji at FCB

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July 21, 2014, a Monday evening at the Schützenwiese stadium: Winterthur welcomes FC Wil for the kick-off of the 2014/15 season. In the audience: two FC Basel scouts, boss Ruedi Zbinden and his colleague Angelo Corti. The duo came with no specific goal, wanting to be inspired. But at half time there is only one topic of conversation: the 19-year-old central defender with the home team. A newly minted pro. Name: Manuel Akanji!

At that time, Corti reported on the Challenge League on behalf of Rood-Blauw. Zverbindungen should report those players who stand out in the second highest Swiss league. After the first, very positive impression of Akanji, Corti attended some FC Winterthur training sessions in the following week. And sees there that the Swiss-Nigerian dual nationality not only impresses in terms of sport, but also with his behavior. “He was always there when there was something to clean up,” says Corti, “these are little things, but they give a deep insight into the character.”

In September 2014, FCB met Winti in the cup

In September 2014 there would be a good chance that FCB met Winti in the cup. After the game, FCB sports director Georg Heitz asked Zbinden if Akanji was on his list. Zbinding has to grin inwardly. At that moment it was clear to him and Corti: this Akanji is a huge jewel, he has to go to FCB!

But there is a catch: during a meeting of the transfer committee of Basel, the then FCB head coach Paulo Sousa spoke out against a transfer from Akanji. The Portuguese actually thinks Akanji is not good enough for the Super League. How to fool yourself…

The rest of FCB’s sporting leadership is enthusiastic, the transfer is being arranged. Also with the premonition that Sousa will move in the summer of 2015 anyway. Whatever happens. Sousa gone, Akanji there. The rest is history: with last weekend’s Champions League victory against Inter Milan as the highlight for the time being.

Corti also does the preparatory work at Schär

By the way: Corti also did the preliminary work when Akanji’s national colleague Fabian Schär switched to FCB. He was there when Schär scored a goal for FC Wil from 65 meters in the autumn of 2011 – and recommended the central defender to his client.

Corti says: “Shortly afterwards, someone from the FCB management personally looked at Schär. The person called me on the way home and said the best part of his game visit was the bratwurst…» After a long back and forth, red-blue finally grabs it. Rightly so: Schär is now a permanent fixture at Newcastle United and has just moved on to the Champions League.

Source : Blick