Real Madrid and Dortmund both lose out as Inter swoop for €40m bargain Hakimi
Real Madrid and Dortmund both lose out as Inter swoop for €40m bargain Hakimi
The Morocco international has impressed during two seasons on loan in Germany and had been touted as a future Blancos first-team star
When transfers are analysed, there is usually a winner and a loser. One team always benefits more than the other from the deal.
It is quite unusual, then, for there to be two losers in a deal, but this is exactly what has happened in the transfer of Achraf Hakimi from Real Madrid to Inter.
The Morocco international lifted the Champions League with Madrid back in 2017-18, but a lack of first-team opportunities saw him spend the last two seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund.
Hakimi has been a revelation in Germany, showing his versatility by playing in either full-back position as well as on the wing, contributing 12 goals and 17 assists over those two campaigns.
Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc was eager to extend his stay at Signal Iduna Park , where the 21-year-old was a key part of Lucien Favre’s exciting young side who ultimately fell short of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, but set a new club record with 84 league goals in 2019-20.
“His deal with Dortmund is ending,” Zorc said last week. “But we’re interested in finding a solution with Real again and find a solution where he will be back playing at BVB next season.”
However, financial stresses caused by the coronavirus pandemic priced the German side out of a move as they were not willing to meet Madrid’s surprisingly low €40 million (£36m/$45m) asking price.
Instead, Inter seized their chance to snap up Hakimi, who scored twice against the Nerazzurri in November to help Dortmund reach the knockout stages and, in turn, knock the Serie A side out of the Champions League.
Hakimi has been on Inter’s radar for many years, which is not surprising, given the precocious talent he showed rising through the ranks of Real’s academy.
Former Morocco international Houssine Kharja, who played for Inter back in 2010-11 revealed that sporting director Piero Ausilio had asked him about Hakimi back in 2017 , and believes that his compatriot will be a perfect fit in Milan.
“Ausilio has been following him for a long time,” Kharja told Gianluca Di Marzio . “Two and a half years ago, when he was still at Real Madrid and was not playing, he started asking me about him several times. Inter is a major club, and Conte’s tactics will be perfect for him.
“He is very strong, in all the years of the national team I have never seen anyone like him. He is very intelligent, he will be able to adapt to Italian football. He may struggle in the defensive phase, perhaps at the beginning, but he will certainly be helped. After all, even Maicon had some difficulties, then he won the treble. Hakimi is ready and will improve.
