Hakimi, PSG, and Morocco: The Quiet Pact Behind the Spotlight
15 October 2025
Rakraki clears the air on the Hakimi saga
Walid Regragui, the Morocco coach, addressed the chatter about a supposed rift with Paris Saint-Germain over star right-back Achraf Hakimi, stressing there is no conflict and that Hakimi remains a central figure for both clubs.
Hakimi’s impact at PSG and with Morocco
Hakimi was among PSG’s most-used players in the 2024-25 season, helping the team win five domestic and continental titles and earning a silver medal at the Club World Cup in the United States.
Regragui said his relationship with PSG is excellent and notes that Hakimi is a key player for both PSG and the Atlas Lions; PSG manages his involvement well.
In the 2025-26 campaign, Hakimi has featured in the early fixtures, starting eight of the first ten league matches and completing seven, underscoring his ongoing value to the squad.
Rakraki manages Hakimi’s playing time wisely
In September, Hakimi played in the 5-0 victory over Niger in the Africa Cup of Nations/World Cup qualifiers, while he was rested for the second match against Zambia on September 8.
He has since featured for Morocco in two matches in October, contributing to a 1-0 friendly win over Bahrain and a 5-0 win against Congo in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers window.
Asked about his involvement and rapport with PSG under coach Luis Enrique, Regragui said: "Our relationship with Paris Saint‑Germain is very good. We reached an agreement on Hakimi’s participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and gave him a rest." Foot Mercato quoted him saying Hakimi remains under contract with PSG and that the club manages him well.
Hakimi’s international stats are notable: 88 caps, 11 goals, 15 assists, and 12 bookings, with extensive involvement across AFCON and World Cup qualifiers as well as Olympic campaigns.
Morocco topped Group 5 in the 2026 qualifiers with 24 points, eight straight wins, and a 22-2 goal tally, ahead of Niger, Tanzania, Zambia, and Congo, after Eritrea withdrew.
With Hakimi recently captaining the Atlas Lions, the team prepares for another World Cup cycle, following a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics after a 6-0 win over Egypt.
Hakimi remains a cornerstone for PSG and Morocco.
Punchline 1: If diplomacy were a football match, Regragui would coach the press box to a clean 2-0 win with a smile and a well-timed quote.
Punchline 2: Hakimi runs so fast that even rumors need a passport to keep up; rumor traffic is officially offside.
