Manchester City star threatens to retire next year at 30 despite being a regular starter

Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has threatened to retire next year due to concerns over the expanded Champions League format. Instead of the traditional group stages, a new league phase has been introduced by UEFA, meaning teams will play eight matches each before the knockout stages begin.

The new 'Swiss model' will see the total number of matches played in the competition increase from 125 to 189.

Next summer will also see the biggest edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, with 32 teams from six different federations.

Akanji has made 96 appearances for City over the last two seasons and has featured in each of their four Premier League games so far this campaign. He also played throughout Euro 2024 for Switzerland, missing the decisive penalty in the quarter-final shootout defeat to England.

And ahead of Wednesday's home game against Inter Milan, he lamented the current schedule, saying: “It's getting more complicated with the league. You're playing different teams, and Inter don't have the same opponents as us. The schedule has become bigger, there are more games.”

“Then we have the Club World Cup at the end of the season. It's just a succession of games and I don't know how it's going to go over the next two years.

“It’s so hard, we’re not only thinking about this season, but also about next season. When do we go on holiday? There’s no break in the winter.”

Akanji turned 29 in July, with his current contract with City running until 2027. But he is now under threat of quitting football before then due to the risk of burnout and mental fatigue.

“If we’re lucky, we’ll have two weeks (next summer) and then we’ll have to come back and start next season,” he continued. “It’s never-ending. I don’t know how it’s going to go. Maybe I’ll retire at 30.”

Akanji arrived at the Etihad from Borussia Dortmund two years ago for what now seems like a modest £15m. His first season in England proved glorious, helping the club win a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble.

Despite his reservations, he also insisted he was looking forward to facing Inter, saying it was reminiscent of City's historic win over the Italian side in Istanbul to seal European glory. “I'm looking forward to it, even with the new format,” he said.

“I think the old one was better, but we always play the best teams and we start with a great game against Inter. The last time we played them was in the 2023 final, so good memories for us.”