PSG’s Censorship Scandal: Hakimi’s Ballon d’Or Ambitions Silenced

Rare insights into the interview that Achraf Hakimi gave to Bertrand Latour of Canal+ in August, during which the Moroccan international felt he deserved to win the Ballon d’Or. "If I have the opportunity to win it, I think I deserve it too. [...] After the historic season I had - there aren’t many players who have scored in the quarters, semis and final - and it’s more difficult as a defender," he had said. According to the French sports journalist, the Moroccan right-back’s remarks were not to the liking of PSG, who were focusing all their communication on Dembélé.

"For the Ballon d’Or, I thought he would give a more conventional response, which is probably what Paris Saint-Germain was expecting," explains the former L’Équipe journalist on Aliotop. "We understood that PSG did not want him to respond that way. But I found him courageous." According to him, the Parisian club even tried to censor this part of the interview. "Did PSG ask for this extract to be deleted?" his interlocutor asked him. He answered in the affirmative. Latour added: "And those who say otherwise are rank liars."

This stance had created tensions within PSG. But the club was able to manage this crisis internally. Achraf even congratulated his teammate Dembelé after his triumph.