La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly considering an audacious move to sign former Real Madrid defender Achraf Hakimi from PSG.
Josep Pedrerol has claimed on La Sexta’s Jugones program that Achraf Hakimi is the subject of interest from Barcelona over a possible late move in the ongoing transfer window. The Catalan giants are ready to sign the former Real Madrid defender on loan if a permanent deal is not possible this summer.
Achraf Hakimi spent most of his formative years with Real Madrid, joining La Fabrica as an eight-year-old in 2006 before graduating from the academy a decade later. But Dani Carvajal’s presence meant the Moroccan international failed to establish a foothold in Real Madrid’s first-team setup. A successful loan stint with Borussia Dortmund made him a hot property in the market before Inter Milan signed him in 2020.
The 23-year-old’s stint with Inter lasted only one year, and he joined Paris Saint-Germain last summer. And Hakimi has established himself as a pivotal figure for PSG after experiencing teething problems, turning out nearly 50 times for Les Parisiens. But the former Real Madrid defender might end another spell at a club after one year, with Barcelona keen on signing him.
The interest from Barcelona is surprising, even though the Catalan giants are in the market for a right-back. Players who have represented Barcelona and Real Madrid previously seldom join the other club, with the two teams considering themselves mortal enemies. But that has not stopped the Blaugrana from showing interest in another former Real Madrid defender, Sergio Reguilon.
As for the pursuit of Hakimi, the PSG full-back is a viable target for Barcelona, considering Xavi Hernandez does not have a natural right-back at his disposal. While Sergino Dest is still on Barcelona’s books, the USMNT international does not feature in Xavi’s plans. And with Dani Alves departing from Camp Nou as a free agent, the need to sign a right-back has accentuated.
Several players have thus emerged on Barcelona’s radar, with Juan Foyth believed to be their top target. But the Catalan giants are turning their attention to Hakimi as an alternative, with the former Real Madrid defender popping up as an option worth considering.
Josep Pedrerol has claimed that Barcelona will try to sign Hakimi on loan from PSG if a permanent deal is not an option. But it is unclear if the 23-year-old will be open to joining Barcelona, considering his ties with Real Madrid. PSG might not necessarily be ready to sell a prized asset like Hakimi either, and this story will likely end soon.
