Before becoming a superstar at PSG, Achraf Hakimi was a Serie A title winning star wing back for Inter Milan. And in order to win that title, he made a fateful decision to leave Real Madrid in the summer 2020 transfer window. Real needed to raise money during the worst of COVID, and after shining for Borussia Dortmund on loan, Hakimi saw a bigger role for himself than being Dani Carvajal's backup at the Santiago Bernabeu.
So the Moroccan international spread his wings and flew, becoming a true top player for Inter before embarking on a journey to superstardom in Paris. And though his future best friend, Kylian Mbappe, made his way back to Real Madird in a dream move, Hakimi has remained with PSG, finally helping the Qatari project win the Champions League with a dominant season in 2024/25.
Hakimi has now ascended to becoming the best right back in world football. For years, Madridistas dreamed of bringing Hakimi back to Spain as Carvajal's successor, and while Real did spend big on wages to bring a huge name at right back in Trent Alexander-Arnold last summer, Hakimi has remained in France.
Achraf Hakimi shows his loyalty to PSG
And for those Real Madrid fans unconvinced by Alexander-Arnold and concerned with Carvajal's final decline, any dreams of Achraf Hakimi remain done and dusted. After PSG's 3-1 win over Toulouse in Ligue 1, Hakimi spoke about making his 200th appearance with the club and only affirmed his loyalty to Nasser Al-Khelaifi's team.
Hakimi said, via Fabrizio Romano, “I hope to continue at PSG for long time and many other games!”.
It is a small statement, a simple one, but a profound one. In the past, Hakimi would be whispered about in transfer rumors, but as time passes and he becomes more entrenched as a fixture and leader in the PSG lineup, the rumors have begun to truly die.
Real Madrid need to find their next homegrown gem of a superstar at right back, because their old homegrown one, Hakimi, is too settled in. A reigning Champions League winner, Hakimi plays for a PSG side that still has a lot of bad blood behind the scenes with Real Madrid after both the signing of Kylian Mbappe for free and the fabled 2021/22 Champions League Round of 16 clash.
Hakimi declaring his loyalty to PSG will always carry a bit of sadness among Madridistas, but they can also feel proud knowing that his name will always be attached to the club that built him - a club he still loves deep down.