Real Madrid: Achraf Hakimi is in ‘advanced talks’ with a surprise club
Real Madrid right back Achraf Hakimi may have found a new club.
Although Real Madrid have the most impressive collection of young players in European football, not everyone out on loan or in Castilla will have a long-term future with the club. And many of those top players will want to start immediately instead of waiting behind a current star, such as Luka Modric or Dani Carvajal.
Achraf Hakimi is one of those players. Real seemed to get a boost in keeping Hakimi when Borussia Dortmund agreed to a four-year deal with PSG free agent right back Thomas Meunier, as Dortmund were the favorites to keep Hakimi on loan for an additional year.
However, it seems like Hakimi has designs on starting in 2020-2021. And since Carvajal is still the best right back in the world and playing at an elite level, he may not be able to start at Real, even if the club could offer him minutes at both right back and right winger.
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According to a report from Sky Italia’s Fabrizio Romano, Hakimi is in “advanced talks” with Inter Milan, who are behind Juventus by eight points and Lazio by four points in Serie A.
Per Romano, Inter manager Antonio Conte, who has done an excellent job of assembling a talented squad, views Hakimi as his first-choice right wing back.
It is an important position in Conte’s system, and it’s a great fit for Hakimi, who shined the most as a wing back at Dortmund under Lucien Favre.
He’d have to be a traditional right back in a back four at Real Madrid, and since he isn’t on Carvajal’s level defensively, his path to playing time at the Santiago Bernabeu would be more difficult.
Inter had been linked to Hakimi previously, and now it’s time to take those links seriously. It’s unclear if Inter have the money to sign the Morocco international, but if they are able to sell star striker Lautaro Martinez for his worth, they should be able to meet Real Madrid’s understandably high asking price for the versatile wide man.
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“Advanced talks” don’t necessarily mean a deal will be completed, but Madridistas should consider Hakimi’s exited a strong possibility, as Romano reports that the player would indeed like to leave Real in order to start. Gianluca Di Marzio reports that a deal is close and could be done for 40 million euros, so as more reliable outlets report on the move, Madridistas need to be more prepared. A 40 million euro deal would be a steal for Inter.