Achraf Hakimi has returned to form for Inter at just the right moment, according to a report in the Italian media today.
The Moroccan was left on the bench for yesterday’s match at home to Cagliari, following a period of indifferent form in recent weeks.
Hakimi came on and had a decisive impact though, providing the decisive assist for Matteo Darmian with just 13 minutes left.
Gazzetta dello Sport‘s online edition said the wing-back was back to his ‘devastating’ best now and was ready to help fire Antonio Conte’s side to the Serie A title.
Hakimi arrived from Real Madrid last summer with a few shortcomings in terms of his defensive work, but Conte has helped improve him and turned him into a more complete player.
He had seemed surprisingly ‘uncertain’ when going forward in recent games, as if he had lost confidence in his own ability, but there was nothing of the sort to worry about at San Siro yesterday.
Inter will be delighted with Hakimi’s return this season – six goals and six assists in his debut Serie A campaign – as proven by the kiss he received from Conte on the touchline, following his cross for Darmian’s winner.
The Milan-based paper said Hakimi’s next challenge was to become more consistent.