A special day at the Allianz Cloud: while the world’s leading players were competing in the round of 16 at the Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1, Inter footballer Manuel Akanji took his seat in the stands. The Nerazzurri defender watched closely as world number ones Agustin Tapia and Arturo Coello took to the court. However, a particularly special moment came after the match, when the Swiss met the two stars. He first shook hands with Argentina’s Tapia before embracing Coello, who immediately asked him about his passion for the sport. “I’m delighted you’ve come to watch us. It’s a real pleasure to have you here with us. So, let me ask you straight away: do you play padel?” the Spaniard asked with a smile. Akanji’s answer was clear: “Yes, I love this sport. My team-mate Nicolò Barella is also a big fan, but I might be better with my feet…” Both players laughed before the conversation turned to Coello’s footballing ability. “I played when I was 10. I really enjoyed it, but I wasn’t that good. Then padel came along, and now it’s my life.” Akanji nodded in agreement: “And I’d say you made a pretty good choice…” There was more laughter, an exchange of shirts and a good-luck message from the Inter player for the remainder of the tournament. Shortly afterwards, Coello produced his fluent English to say, “I have a gift for you”, to which Manuel Akanji replied, “Me too”. The defender presented him with an Inter shirt in exchange for the Spaniard’s shirt. The Inter player then asked whether he might be able to return to the Allianz Cloud for Sunday’s final, given that Inter are due to play in Bologna on Saturday.
His love of the sport is no secret: he has previously listed padel among his favourite pastimes. “I enjoy watching padel and playing whenever I can. I also follow tennis, basketball and Formula 1,” he said recently. The Swiss was not the only Inter player to visit the Allianz Cloud this week: on Monday afternoon, Barella had watched his friend Fabian Oviedo and Inter player Marco Cassetta in action.