Inter wing-back Achraf Hakimi is set to face Juventus in the Coppa Italia Semi-Final second leg on Tuesday, after missing the opening match through suspension.
The Nerazzurri look to overturn a 2-1 deficit at the Allianz Stadium and reach the Final for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2011, with coach Antonio Conte boosted by the return from suspension of Hakimi and forward Romelu Lukaku.
However, as reported in today’s newspaper edition of Corriere dello Sport, Conte looks for more than just defensive solidity from Hakimi, with the number of goals and assists provided this season leading to them likening him to a striker.
The summer arrival from Real Madrid has already scored six goals from right wing-back and laid on as many assists in all competitions, with no defender in Europe currently able to match those statistics.
Hakimi added to his tally of assists when he set up Ivan Perisic for Inter’s second goal in a 2-0 Serie A win over Fiorentina on Friday, and is expected to replace Matteo Darmian against Juventus after serving his suspension last week.
