Zidane Eyes Hakimi’s Early Return to Bolster Real Madrid Defense

Currently on loan until 2020, the Moroccan could return as early as next season, a year before the end of his loan, at the insistent request of the French coach. The latter wants the return of the young Moroccan, report several Spanish media, specifying that Zidane is counting on Hakim to ensure the Madrid defense.

Very little used at Real, already at the time of Zidane, Hakimi had been loaned to Dortmund where his talent has exploded. Despite the German club’s wish to keep him, the leaders had warned the supporters and the player that this would be a difficult, even impossible, mission, and this is now confirmed.

Last November, during the club’s annual meeting, Watzke had expressed his intention to recruit the Moroccan player. "Dear Paco Alcacer, welcome to Borussia Dortmund. And to Achraf Hakimi: we’ll try to do the same with you but it won’t be easy," he had told him.

When he left Real in July 2018, his transfer market value was 7.5 million euros and according to professionals it would now be around 20 million euros, or three times more, and this is just the beginning.