A star named Hakimi

At just 22 years old his CV is already very impressive, with brilliant stints in three European leagues and the recognition of his peers who shone in his position. Achraf Hakimi, a young right-back recently crowned Italian champion with Inter Milan, has decided to move to the French capital to continue his meteoric rise.

It must be said that everything went very fast for Achraf. He was born in the Spanish capital to Moroccan parents, and was only seven years old when he joined the prestigious Real Madrid academy. There, he made his debut as a promising young full-back in all youth categories, before making his mark with Castilla (U19), by making a real difference in the Youth League.

That was all it took for Zinedine Zidane to propel him into the Real Madrid team at the tender age of 18. He replaced Carvajal in the starting line-up and was introduced to the Madrid set-up the following year. In the 2017-2018 season, two months after his pro debut, he scored his first goal against Sevilla, served by Karim Benzema, became the first Arabic player to score for Madrid, and ended the season by lifting the Champions League. In short, the start of his career set the tone.

"I am a defender with the mind of a striker! I like to contribute to the attack, to be in attacking areas. In defence, I can play in a back 3, 5, 4, 2" says the ultra-versatile former Madrid man. But on the pitch, Hakimi has become much more than that, he's up there with the best.

In the summer of 2018, he shone during the World Cup with the Morocco team as a left-back, which confirmed the hopes placed in him along with the generation of young Moroccan talents and his ability to play in all positions. Enough for him to be voted best African young player of the year.

In no time at all, Borussia Dortmund signed Hakimi on loan for two seasons. In the Bundesliga, Hakimi continued to learn as a right-back, making 73 appearances. In the second year, he even finished with nine goals and ten assists in the league alone. The icing on the cake was that he set a few speed records, clocking up more than 36 km/h on several occasions. And that led to his being named Young African Footballer of the Year again.

From this stint in Germany, he also showed sparks that made a lasting impression, such as his three assists against Atletico Madrid on a Champions League night in October 2018 (4-0). A year later, another brilliant moment as Hakimi put Inter Milan through hell, scoring two goals in another European night (3-2). It was enough to catch the eye of Antonio Conte, who signed his enemy on the night in the following summer.

Three years had passed, and Hakimi had grown, head and shoulders as he excelled in Italy. A fantastic counter-attacker, he was involved in 15 goals during the season, becoming the second most involved defender in Europe's top 5 leagues since 2019 (by being involved in 30 goals).
But in Serie A, he also improved his defensive capabilities, his technique, and his ability to be unstoppable from set-pieces. And then, during the 2020-2021 season, he was on the verge of the very top, as they dislodged Juventus from their throne and won a league title that the Tifosi had been waiting for for ten years. His 6th trophy as a player.

But the star didn't stop there. He moves on and takes on new challenges. And just as well, the French capital is full of them. So after having shone in Italy, it is on the other side of the Alps that he has decided to settle down. Inside, a Rouge et Bleu shirt is waiting for him to give the city of light some moments of excitement.