Will history repeat itself? On August 1, 2021, three big weeks after signing for PSG, Achraf Hakimi had an eventful reception in Tel Aviv for the Champions Trophy against Lille. Taken in dislike by part of the public reproaching him for his support for Palestine, the Moroccan international (50 selections, 8 goals) was copiously whistled at (almost) each ball touched, which had not prevented him from being the one of the rare satisfactions that day on the pitch, despite the 1-0 defeat. “Hakimi’s performance was good despite the circumstances,” said Mauricio Pochettino, then Parisian coach.
Several months earlier, as tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict redoubled, the former Inter Milan player had shown his solidarity with the Palestinian people by relaying the hashtag “#FreePalestine” on social networks followed by emojis without equivocal. A final position that had not gone unnoticed.
However, he has been rather discreet on the subject in recent months. Paris, for its part, did not communicate in abundance about its presence, although it is obviously part of the group having made the trip to Tel Aviv.
It remains to be seen how he will be received a year later for this new edition of the Champions Trophy which will see PSG and Nantes face off on Sunday evening at the Bloomfield Stadium (8 p.m. French time). A match for which he should be a starter, like last year, if we are to believe recent friendly matches. Nordi Mukiélé, who has not done any preparation with the team, nor the tour in Japan, should not start in his place, even if the last reinforcement of the Parisian summer has also made the trip.
“In one year, people have had time to think”
“In my opinion, it will go well for Hakimi, predicts Yosef. I am Palestinian, I live here and I have no problem. All this is politics and he is a footballer. Mino, he has not forgotten the whistles against the Parisian player. He wants to be more careful. “In a year, people have had time to reflect, but I think they can still give him a bronca. For Israel, to have their ideas respected,” says this supporter of Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
Among the approximately 250 fans who came to welcome the PSG players upon their arrival at the Hilton hotel on Friday evening, the jersey of a young boy flocked with Hakimi and his number 2 calmed the climate even if the PSG seemed on its guard. Indeed, on leaving the bus, the defender was escorted by a bodyguard with his hand on his belt. Proof that nothing is left to chance.
