By signing Achraf Hakimi, Under Armor hits a big blow in the landscape of sports equipment manufacturers. The Moroccan footballer of PSG at most 20 million subscribers on Instagram is considered one of the best players in the world in his post, if not the best. The American brand that has moved away from football in recent years has decided to make a shattering return to the world of the round ball. Under Armor can boast of having a footballer in almost every big European club, Antonio Rüdiger at Real Madrid, Ferran Torres at FC Barcelona, Sacha Boey at Bayern Munich and now Achraf Hakimi at PSG.
French Football Weekly: Stephen Curry, Antonio Rüdiger, Anthony Joshua, all these great athletes are sponsored by Under Armor. What does you do to integrate the Under Armor family alongside these big names in sport?
Achraf Hakimi: The first thing is extremely happy to join the Under Armor brand. It is an honor to join this family, to join the big names you have cited. They are all the best in their sport. I'm happy to be among them.
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FM: Sportingly, we have rarely seen an Achraf Hakimi as strong as this season. Is this the best version since the start of your career?
Ah: I don't know if it's the best. I think I'm in a good time, a special moment in my life too. So, I'm happy, but I hope to improve much more and give the maximum to do much better than that. I have a potential that I still have to work and I will work for that. And at that time, we will still see a better version of me.
FM: On what aspect of the Luis Enrique game really makes you progress precisely?
Ah: I think it allowed me to see football in different ways. To see football in different positions thanks to its systems. From time to time, I play inside. I make different movements too than before, I did not know how to do or that I could not feel able to do. He taught me that. This is why we see a different hakimi.
FM: What are the differences between this PSG and that of last year?
Ah: There are not really a lot of differences. We have the same coach, the same mentality. Since he was there, he said that the team was not just one player. I think it is the continuity of last season with more time together, more working time together too.
FM: You went through Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Dortmund, is this PSG the best team in which you played?
Ah: (laughs) I don't know if it's the best, but one of the best. I have been in big changing rooms with great players. In each team, we did great things, we won titles. It's not easy to say which team is the best. But collectively, it is one of the best teams with which I played, yes. It is possible. I was with great champions, I learned every time and I gave the best of me so that the team is proud of myself.
Credit: @underarmour
FM: In Morocco, several binationals have recently chosen to represent the Atlas Lions, how do you analyze it?
Ah: I analyze it positively. I see that Morocco is doing things well, it gives players who were not born in Morocco the opportunity to see that the selection is fighting with the big nations of Europe and the world. We work well and the players are ready to defend their country, that of their parents.
FM: The CAN at home arrives very quickly, is the only option to win it?
Ah: We only think of winning it, to tell the truth. We play at home, with us, with our supporters. We are ready for that. I think that to win this CAN, we should only think that we are going to do it. This is the goal, the only thing in mind is: winning, winning, winning.
FM: You will be eagerly awaited, with this favorite status …
Ah: We must take this responsibility. It is true that we play at home, it is a responsibility, but positive. We play with the support of supporters. In a CAN, there are always difficult times, complicated matches. And in these moments, we will need supporters. And at home, when you are at the moment when you think you can't give more, when you hear the person next to you scream for you, you will find the strength to give more. It is good to take this responsibility. It is important to assume things.
FM: In 2030, Morocco will welcome the World Cup with Spain and Portugal. You will be 31 years old, do you already think about it? …
Ah: No, but every day I prepare to be the best physically and therefore play as long as possible with my country, with the team. And especially in football, you have to do things well physically. I am preparing for Inchallah playing the World Cup that will be beautiful at home.
Credit: @underarmour
