Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji has threatened to retire from football next year amid concerns over the expanded Champions League format. Instead of the traditional group stages, a new League Phase has now been introduced by UEFA, meaning teams will play eight fixtures each before the knockout rounds get underway.
The new ‘Swiss model’ will see the overall number of games played in the competition rise from from 125 to 189.
Next summer will also see the biggest ever edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, with 32 teams set to take part from six different federations.
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Akanji has made 96 club appearances in the last two seasons for City, and has featured in all four of their Premier League games so far in this campaign. He also played throughout Euro 2024 for Switzerland, missing the decisive penalty in their quarter-final shootout defeat to England.
And ahead of a home game with Inter Milan this Wednesday, he’s bemoaned the current schedule, saying: “It’s getting more complicated with the league. You play different teams, and then Inter don’t have the same opponents as us. It’s just got bigger, more games.
"Then we have the Club World Cup at the end of the season. It’s just game after game and I don’t know how it will work out over the next couple of years.
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"It’s so tough, you don’t just think about this season – but also next season. When do we do holidays? There are no breaks in winter.”
Akanji turned 29 in July, with his current City contract running until 2027. But he’s now threatened to walk away from football before that due to the threat of burnout and mental fatigue.
"If we are lucky we get two weeks (next summer) and then we need to be back and into next season,” he continued. “There’s no end to it. I don’t know how it works out. Maybe I’ll retire at 30.”
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Akanji arrived at the Etihad from Borussia Dortmund two years ago for what now appears a bargain £15million fee. His maiden season in England proved a glorious one, helping the club to a Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League treble.
And despite his reservations, he also insisted he was excited about the clash with Inter, saying it sparks memories 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 go up against the best teams still 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."
