Achraf Hakimi, who once again said kind words about Zinedine Zidane, was not always a big fan of the French technician.
Achraf Hakimi is one of the men in form this start of the season. Sluggish last season, the Moroccan international seems totally transformed. Should we see the consequences of the departure of Lionel Messi, with whom he had difficulty combining, or the arrival of Luis Enrique? The former Milanese obviously has only good things to say about his coach, but he was also enthusiastic about Zinedine Zidane, who launched him into the deep end at Real Madrid.
“The one who had faith in me and who gave me the opportunity to play for Real Madrid, especially professionally, was Zidane, he said at a press conference on Monday. Having him as a coach was incredible: learning from him, listening to him, especially for a young player who is living his dream. So I was trying to absorb everything he said you had to learn, and it all came in handy when I left Real for Germany. »
This is not the first time that the Madrid native has showered praise on the former Real coach. “I only have good words for him because he was the one who trusted me to join the first team in Madrid,” he had already confided last fall. And it was the same when he arrived in Paris. “We all know how good he was as a football player. Few people had the chance to meet him as a coach. I’m really grateful to have the chance to play under Zidane’s leadership,” he said, even adding: “He gave me the chance to play under him and that’s why I will always be grateful to him. I take every opportunity to talk to him. He’s like a father to me.”
These praises for Zinedine Zidane may be surprising given his departure from Real Madrid for Inter Milan after two years on loan, to Borussia Dortmund and the Nerazzuri. His agent had not been kind to the former French midfielder. “ Zidane is the reason for Hakimi’s transfer to Inter Milan. He has to explain why Hakimi left,” he said when signing the right back in Lombardy.
Achraf Hakimi himself let his bitterness filter through the microphone of El Chiringuito. “ They had the opportunity at the time to keep me. Madrid was my home and I would like to play there, but they decided otherwise. It’s a shame they were afraid I’d win the job. I felt capable of it. I don’t know if it comes from Zidane or the club », he regretted.
