Pochettino claims Tottenham were ‘on the edge’ of signing Achraf Hakimi

Follow us on Google Discover

Tottenham Hotspur were ‘on the edge’ of signing Achraf Hakimi from Real Madrid – but he chose to join Borussia Dortmund instead.

Mauricio Pochettino has made these claims ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League campaign.

Pochettino’s PSG signed Hakimi from Inter Milan this summer, and Pochettino now claims Tottenham made a move.

Pochettino believes Tottenham were ‘on the edge’ of signing Hakimi in 2018, but he picked Dortmund instead.

“Achraf is a young player [I have] been following since [I was] at Tottenham,” said Pochettino. “We were on the edge of signing him for Tottenham, but then he went to play for Dortmund.”

“He has a great capacity to run, his physical potential is huge. He is young, he’s maturing at the defensive level, but he makes a lot of contributions in attack,” he added.

Tottenham missed out on one of the fastest players around in Hakimi

Hakimi isn’t just fast – he’s ‘world-class speed’ fast.

The Moroccan was clocked as the second fastest player in Europe in 2020. Hakimi was only narrowly behind first-placed Alphonso Davies.

Imagine having that speed up the right flank at Tottenham. Kyle Walker’s marauding runs haven’t been replaced, and Hakimi could have brought that to Tottenham.

You can see why Pochettino wanted Hakimi at Tottenham. His attacking exploits have been ridiculous. In just five games at PSG, Hakimi already has a goal and two assists – from right back!

Sadly, Tottenham fans will have just have to wonder what might have been with Hakimi.

Pochettino finally gets his man

What a team PSG have built.

As if having Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Marquinhos wasn’t enough, PSG have strengthened massively this summer.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Nuno Mendes, Gini Wijnaldum and even Lionel Messi have all joined. So has Hakimi, making a big move from Inter Milan.

These are names and riches that Pochettino could only dream of at Tottenham – and maybe he and Hakimi can win the Champions League this season, something Tottenham came close to achieving in 2019.