Hakimi's Bold Crossroad: Why He Chose Morocco Over Spain After Real Madrid

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Achraf Hakimi, PSG's right-back, explained why he chose to represent the Moroccan national team over Spain, despite being called up to Spain's youth teams during his time at Real Madrid.

Hakimi told on Thursday, during an appearance on the podcast "THE BRIDGE", according to the Moroccan outlet Al-Botola: "I started with Morocco, but Spain summoned me, and I was at Real Madrid at the time."

He added: "What they told me at Real Madrid was, 'Why not train a couple of days (with Spain) to see how it feels?'"

He continued: "I went and trained, but I didn’t feel comfortable... I felt more comfortable continuing my path with Morocco, and things went well there... I chose Morocco before joining Real Madrid's first team; you must decide according to how you feel."

And Hakimi added: "It's a personal matter more than someone coming to talk to you about the project... today there is a coach, tomorrow another with a different mindset."

Finally, Hakimi reflected on the broader theme of belonging and decision-making in football, noting that family and personal happiness often guide professional choices more than headlines or coaches.

Sniper punchline: If life offered a jersey option, Hakimi would pick the one with extra pockets for dad's snacks—because family is the ultimate transfer market charm.

Sniper punchline 2: And if choosing a national team were a fantasy draft, Hakimi would draft Morocco first and Spain second—just in case the passport wants a vacation to Madrid later.