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John Stones Set to Shine at Inter with Manuel Akanji's Help

2026-08-20 · John Stones · Player Focus

John Stones is set to shine at Inter, according to teammate Manuel Akanji. The Swiss star has revealed his personal mission to help John Stones adapt to Italian football and culture.

What happened?

Manuel Akanji has backed John Stones to master Italian tactics, despite the transition from the Premier League to Serie A requiring a sharp tactical adjustment.

The transition from a back four to Inter's specific defensive structure involves a learning curve that Akanji himself had to master upon his arrival last year.

Why it matters for John Stones

John Stones has already made an impact, scoring in a pre-season friendly against Real Betis. Akanji noted that moving from a back four to Inter's defensive structure involves a learning curve.

Akanji is acting as a guide, translator, and friend to help John Stones navigate the complexities of Italian football and culture.

What comes next?

Inter have significantly strengthened their backline, with the return of Benjamin Pavard from a loan spell at Marseille further increasing the competition for places.

The defender insists that the internal competition at Appiano Gentile is the catalyst for individual and collective improvement.

  • John Stones is set to shine at Inter with Manuel Akanji's help
  • Akanji has revealed his personal mission to help John Stones adapt to Italian football and culture
  • Inter have strengthened their backline with the return of Benjamin Pavard

Mental preparation and the season ahead

Akanji has used the summer break to refresh his mindset, even debuting a new hairstyle for the upcoming campaign.

At 31, he feels as fit as ever and is eager to kick off the Serie A season against Monza.

His preparation has been meticulous, combining individual training with team sessions to ensure he is ready for the rigours of the Italian top flight.

"I don’t think it will take long to get back to 100%, because I was on holiday for three weeks and, as I normally do, I continued to train. Initially, I

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