Nathan Ake has named the most underrated player at Manchester City.
With Manchester City having an array of big names within their ranks, it is impossible for every player to get the credit they deserve.
The attacking players at City in particular, like at most other clubs get the most praise from fans and pundits alike.
Even though John Stones feels Julian Alvarez is the most underrated player in Manchester City’s squad.
Ake names the most underrated player at Man City
On Fubo’s YouTube channel, Nathan Ake named Manuel Akanji straightaway as the club’s most underappreciated player.
Ake explained: “I have one, maybe you [Rico Lewis] can say another one but for me, [Manuel] Akanji. I think how he plays whatever position he plays, he always plays top for me personally and it doesn’t really get spoken about often like maybe other players and for me, he deserves a lot of credit.”
During Manchester City’s latest 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, Jamie Carragher praised Manuel Akanji’s versatility and how reliable he is across the back four.
Carragher also lauded the fact that the Sky Blues managed to sign the former Borussia Dortmund colossus for just £15 million.
After Manchester City’s 3-1 victory against Copenhagen in the Champions League, Rio Ferdinand described the Swiss international as “valuable” to this City side and a “fantastic” defender.
Manuel Akanji deserves all the plaudits in the world
Former centre-backs like Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand are certainly impressed with the 28-year-old’s impact in a City shirt.
But across the board, Nathan Ake might have a point about Manuel Akanji being underrated.
Akanji has been a success from day one, whose influence in this City side has remained sky-high after the treble-winning campaign.
This season, Manuel Akanji has started 27 Premier League games while playing across the back four and in John Stones’ signature hybrid role.
Yet, one doubts whether he gets the plaudits Stones and Dias tend to get.
For how tactically flexible, intelligent, defensively resolute and consistent he is, Manchester City players perhaps realise how important Manuel Akanji is to their side.
Perhaps if City win the league on the last day of the season, Akanji’s significant impact on this role will dawn on many.
