Achraf Hakimi’s (27) first season at Paris Saint-Germain was hardly prolific, and he has told The Bridge that part of the reason why is because of Lionel Messi’s (38) arrival at the club.
Hakimi joined PSG in a €68m deal from Inter Milan back in the summer of 2021. It was a big coup for Les Parisiens, who at the time were still in search of their first UEFA Champions League title, however, his signing would be eclipsed by the arrival of Messi later in the transfer window.
It is the signing of La Pulga that made for a different first season at the Parc des Princes for the Morocco captain, as he tells The Bridge. “My first season at PSG was very difficult. I came from Inter, from Dortmund… I was a different kind of full-back, one who attacked, who scored, with a team that played with me, where I was important,” he began.
During his one full season with Internazionale, he made 18 goal contributions across 45 appearances in all competitions. His first season with PSG was less fruitful, even if he did reach double figures for goal contributions (four goals, six assists).
“After, I arrived in Paris, Neymar and Kylian Mbappé were already there, but Messi had not yet arrived. Naturally, when he arrived, PSG’s play style changed. When I signed, I didn’t know that Messi was coming, too. So the play style is different; he is there, so I can no longer attack. I have to stay behind. I felt like a ‘small player’. Especially since, at the same time, I was an important player for Morocco, so it was difficult for me to be the player that I wanted to be in Paris, and then I was criticised a lot, with people asking why I was playing like I was for the national team and then not with PSG. It was hard,” admitted Hakimi.
His attacking prowess was on full display last season as he scored 11 goals and assisted a further 16 as PSG went on to win the Champions League. This season, he has 10 goal contributions in 24 games.
