Surprise Encore: Hakimi Drops in as Madrid Stumbles in Elche Clash
24 November 2025
Hakimi's Surprise Visit to Madrid
Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi, Paris Saint-Germain's right-back, made an unexpected appearance near his former club, Real Madrid.
Hakimi sat in the Martínez Valero stands to watch Real Madrid against Elche, a 2-2 draw in La Liga's thirteenth round.
The Africa Cup of Nations champion looked moved by Real Madrid's struggles at Elche's fortress.
Return, Records, and PSG Chapter
At 27, Hakimi rose through Real Madrid's academy to the first team, before leaving for Borussia Dortmund in 2018 and then Inter Milan in 2020.
A year later Inter sold him to Paris Saint-Germain for 60 million euros, with a contract through 2026 that was extended to 2029 last season.
Earlier, he scored 2 goals in 17 appearances for Real, 12 in 73 for Inter, and 27 in 189 for PSG.
Hakimi won the CAF Player of the Year award recently in Marrakech, ahead of Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, PSG's chairman, said Hakimi is one of the world's best players and Africa's best without a doubt.
He added Hakimi is a leader for PSG and for Morocco, and that everyone is proud.
Dembélé congratulated him on Instagram, while Mbappé also praised him after the ceremony.
Mbappé's post read, "Love you, brother, Africa's king—well deserved."
The two formed a strong friendship at PSG from 2021 to 2024 before Mbappé's move to Real Madrid.
Mbappé often praised Hakimi's form with the Atlas Lions in interviews.
PSG's 2025-2026 Season: Form and European Quest
Paris Saint‑Germain's results in the 2025-2026 season include 9 wins and a single 0-1 loss to Marseille in the classic French derby, with three draws.
Wins over Nantes and Angers were 1-0, then Toulouse was crushed 6-3, Lens won 2-0, and Auxerre 2-0.
Before the October international break PSG drew away to Lille 1-1, then Strasbourg 3-3 at the Parc des Princes, briefly losing top spot before reclaiming it with Brest, Lorient, Nice, Lyon, and Le Havre victories.
In Europe, PSG opened with four wins: over Atalanta 4-0, Barcelona 2-1, Bayer Leverkusen 7-2, before a 1-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the fourth matchday.
