Morocco: Achraf Hakimi takes the new gem of the Atlas Lions under his wing

Gessime, a 20-year-old Strasbourg midfielder, has taken a major step in his career during the recent friendly matches against Ecuador and Paraguay. The U20 world champion made his first start with the Moroccan senior team during the victory (2-1) against Paraguay, where he shared the field with the team’s key players. This promotion rewards his solid performances in Ligue 1 since his arrival in Alsace at the beginning of the year.

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The integration of the new international has been facilitated by the warm welcome of his new teammates, especially that of Achraf Hakimi. The star of Paris Saint-Germain has personally invested himself to help the young player find his bearings in this new environment. "It’s the dream team, and the great players have welcomed me very well, with Achraf Hakimi at the top of the list," Gessime confided after Strasbourg’s victory over Nice (3-1).

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For the player, playing alongside his idols represents the fulfillment of a deep personal goal. "These are players I dreamed of playing with, and making that a reality is truly wonderful. It’s a dream I don’t want to wake up from," he said. Ambitious, he now wishes to establish himself permanently in the national team while continuing to work on his defensive withdrawal to shine on the field and enjoy himself.