'I Didn’t Enjoy Playing With Messi': Hakimi Opens Up on Difficult PSG Spell
Achraf Hakimi has openly admitted that his time playing alongside Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain was far from enjoyable, revealing that the experience affected his confidence and role within the team.
Hakimi reveals he didn’t enjoy playing with Messi at PSG, saying tactics limited him and he felt like a minor player before Luis Enrique restored balance.
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Although Messi is widely known for elevating the performances of those around him, especially in attacking positions, Hakimi explained that his own strengths as an attacking full-back were not fully expressed during that period.
With Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé forming what was seen in theory as one of the most dangerous attacking trios in football history, PSG still struggled to find success in Europe and lacked the right balance in their overall structure.
The turning point came later under Luis Enrique, when a more balanced system allowed Hakimi to thrive. With improved tactical organization and greater teamwork, the Moroccan defender showcased his pace and sharp attacking contribution, becoming one of the standout full-backs of his generation.
Hakimi and Messi both arrived during the 2021 summer window, with PSG paying €68 million for the Moroccan defender, while Messi joined on a free transfer from Barcelona.
However, Messi’s arrival significantly changed the team’s playing style under Mauricio Pochettino, as the system became heavily focused on the star-studded attacking trio, reducing overall balance and affecting players like Hakimi.
Speaking on the podcast “THE BRIDGE,” Hakimi said: “As soon as Messi arrived, Paris Saint-Germain’s project changed, and with it the team’s style of play. We were playing in different ways and I wasn’t enjoying it.”
He continued: “I wasn’t doing the things I love to do, like attacking and feeling important… I felt like a minor player, and I remember at that moment I was thinking about my situation with the national team, where I’m treated as an important player.”
Hakimi also highlighted the mental struggle he faced during that time, adding that criticism increased as people questioned the difference between his performances for Morocco and PSG, with many failing to understand the tactical context behind it.
