Achraf Hakimi: What to expect in 2021-22

After initial reservations over Achraf Hakimi’s tactical development — which saw Antonio Conte drop the Morocco superstar for Matteo Darmian — the wide defender thrived for most of Inter Milan’s successful Serie A campaign.

The Nerazzurri turned the screw in the New Year after a disappointing Champions League elimination (and exit from Europe altogether) to secure the team’s first Scudetto in 11 years.

Hakimi’s 15 goal contributions was outdone by only Atalanta’s Robin Gosens (17) in Europe’s top five leagues and the young North African, by and large, cemented his place as the continent’s finest wing-back in 2020-21.

Owing to Inter’s precarious financial situation, the 22-year-old joined Paris Saint-Germain in July for around €60 million, potentially rising by €11 million in ad-ons, on a five-year deal.  

It’s hard to imagine a worst-case scenario for a player who has demonstrated his immense talent in the last few campaigns in Germany and Italy.

Having said that, a failure to reclaim Ligue 1 and equally fail in the Champions League won’t be well received in Paris.

On the other hand, Hakimi will hope to dovetail with the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and the rest of PSG’s star-studded group as Mauricio Pochettino’s troops look to win the major titles.

Individually, the former Real Madrid man could set a target of surpassing 15 goal involvements, his tally in the last two seasons at Borussia Dortmund and Inter.

Despite only just completing a move to France, the 22-year-old’s agent Alejandro Camano revealed his client’s ambition to return to Madrid one day.

“Real Madrid had the right of first refusal until PSG and Inter said that the deal was going to take place,” Camano told El Transistor in July.

“We keep the hope and the dream that Achraf returns to Real Madrid because he was born in Madrid, grew up in Madrid and as a final aim, one day, he would like to play for Real Madrid.”

Hakimi was part of the Morocco group that underperformed in 2019, exiting against Benin in the Round of 16.

Having grown as a player in the last two years, the wide defender’s skill set ought to be on display in Cameroon as the Atlas Lions seek a second Africa Cup of Nations title in their history and a first since 1976.

The mouth-watering prospect of Paris Saint-Germain’s additions strutting their stuff in Ligue 1 and the Champions League can’t be diminished.

Frankly, it feels odd that Hakimi’s arrival has been greatly overshadowed by Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos moving to France—such was the magnitude of PSG’s summer transfers.

While Pochettino’s team were defeated by Lille in the Trophee des Champions encounter, the minimum expectation is to wrest the Ligue 1 title from last year’s champions.

Having said that, and despite the Parisians’ recruitment drive which makes them Champions League favourites, we believe the Argentine tactician may struggle to find a coherent tactical structure to accommodate his stars, ultimately leading to the favourites falling short in Europe.