Real Madrid gets a huge boost in retaining Achraf Hakimi
By Ben Sundock
Real Madrid fullback Achraf Hakimi is nearing the end of his two-year loan stint with Borussia Dortmund, but until today, there was doubt he would return to Spain. Fans can now relax after some big news was announced.
We Madridistas have been anxiously waiting for months to get some kind of indication as to where Achraf Hakimi will be playing when the 2020/2021 campaign gets underway. During his two-year stay in Germany, the Moroccan international has grown his game by leaps and bounds and has become incredibly versatile.
Before he left Real Madrid, Achraf was more than capable playing as a fullback on either side of the defense.
However, in the last several months, Dortmund manager Lucien Favre has deployed Hakimi as a right midfielder/winger and he has been fantastic in the attacking third.
The big news that indicates to me and should indicate to Real Madrid fans everywhere that Achraf will be back in the Santiago Bernabeu come the fall is Dortmund’s announcement that they have signed fullback Thomas Meunir from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer.
Bayern Munich was trying to join in the pursuit of Hakimi, but have decided to back out of the deal due to this news and Real Madrid’s unwavering commitment to the player. Achraf is a wickedly talented and has been a key for Dortmund from the moment he joined. His versatility has made him even more valuable than he was when he joined.
But, his future lies in Madrid. “He will link back up with Real Madrid when the season finishes,” Camano – Achraf’s agent – told Onda Madrid. “We’ll see what happens after that.”
Neutral fans have argued that it is in the player’s best interest to stay in Germany since he has established himself as a regular starter and has been in such great form. My argument is that thanks to Favre’s tactics and coaching, Zidane can play Achraf Hakimi anywhere on the right side of the formation if needed.
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Selling or leaving this guy out of the squad should be a crime and Zidane is too good of a coach to let a young talent like Achraf leave. With Gareth Bale likely on the way out and the coaching staff looking for more creative players to help Dani Carvajal on the right flank, Achraf is an easy choice here.
Dortmund’s signing of Meunir guarantees the Moroccan is back in Spain in the next few months and I can’t wait for that day.