Inter wing-back Achraf Hakimi insists that he was attracted to the Nerazzurri’s project and is looking forward to continuing at the club.
The Morocco international joined from Real Madrid last summer after a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund and his six goals and as many assists have helped propel Inter to an 11-point lead at the top of Serie A.
In an interview published in today’s newspaper edition of La Repubblica, the 22-year-old admitted that Napoli and Gennaro Gattuso had shown an interest in him, but the ambitions of Inter had swayed him to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
“They [Napoli] were looking at me because I’m young and at Dortmund I was doing well. But the team that attracted me the most was Inter, it was a project that was growing,” Hakimi declared.
“It’s an honour to be part of the campaign for the new logo. I like it and think it looks to the future. A future that we can build together. I hope to stay at this club for a long time, I am happy here.”
Hakimi provided the assist for Matteo Darmian in Inter’s 1-0 win over Cagliari last weekend and admitted he was delighted with a moment of affection from coach Antonio Conte after his impact.
“It was a beautiful gesture of affection and the coach is with us whatever happens. He is an older brother to us both in terms of age and experience.
“He gives us freedom and allows us to have fun, which you can see on the pitch. He is part of a group that he built himself.”
Conte has used Hakimi in a more attacking role as a wing-back in front of a three-man defence and the Moroccan felt it was improving him as a player, whilst he felt that the Nerazzurri had clicked across the course of the season.
“At Real Madrid I grew up with a four-man defence, but with three central players I have more freedom to attack. The focus on tactics and defence is central to Conte’s football and it’s making me a more complete player.
“We all want the same things, we follow a single path and we are united even off the pitch. The growth was gradual. Many of us were new, including myself. We got to know each other.
“Then, of course, things happened that boosted us. The elimination from the Champions League allowed us to focus on Serie A, whilst the defeats helped us to understand what we wanted.
“We talk about the Scudetto respectfully, knowing we haven’t won it yet. I won’t deny that it is our aim but there are many games to be played. Tomorrow against Napoli will be very important.”
Hakimi lifted the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2018 and felt it was only a matter of time before Inter made an impact in Europe, having suffered elimination at the Group Stage this season.
“Some things were missing and we needed time to gel. The regret of the elimination remains, but we are strong. This team will be talked about in Europe too.
“A football match is not a film. In football, it is important to score goals and not concede, to win and finish first in every competition.”
The wing-back then turned his attention to praise from former Inter great Ronaldo, who had declared that he would have loved to have been on the end of some of his assists.
“I wonder what we could have achieved together! With Ronaldo you can do anything. It would have been great to be able to run up the wing and provide an assist for him,” Hakimi concluded.