PSG’s Achraf Hakimi Returns to Training, Discusses Bond with Mbappé Ahead of Real Madrid Clash

While the player’s supporters and fans feared his absence in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Real Madrid this Wednesday, Achraf Hakimi returned to group training sessions on Sunday, dispelling any doubt about his presence in this match that the Parisians hope to win. Hakimi knows Real well and will be a major asset for his club in this match.

The Moroccan player first confided in the remarkable complicity between him and Kylian Mbappé. "We are two 23-year-old young men who share the same tastes. We talk about music, video games, we go to restaurants or just spend time together... We appreciate each other," he told the French daily.

He took the opportunity to revisit some moments he enjoyed sharing with his friend and teammate. "The stop at a highway rest area? These are things that happen. We were supposed to travel by plane, but that wasn’t possible. We found ourselves in the car. And in those cases, you have to stop to refuel and you feel like having a coke, water or a snack. It’s a moment where we laughed a lot at the highway rest area, because we’re young and we like to enjoy life." He stressed that he appreciates every moment shared with the latter. "He’s one of the ones who helps me the most, even if it’s a bit difficult for me," adds the Moroccan player.

The other friend he also talked about during this interview is Lionel Messi, who plays in the same position as him. "We discuss for the good of the team, match situations, so that each one understands how the other plays. It’s only been six months that we’ve been playing together. It takes time to understand each other, to discover each other’s qualities. But every week, we progress and feel better than at the beginning."

Apart from Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, Achraf Hakimi says he is impressed by the Italian player Marco Verratti. "Here in Paris, Marco Verratti has surprised me a lot. He’s a top player that I saw on TV but being around him is different. You measure things much more."