Did PSG sign Hakimi to convince Mbappe to sign a new contract?

Stefan Bienkowski

• 6 Jul 2021 18:21 BST
• 3 min read

Achraf Hakimi is undoubtedly a statement signing by Paris Saint-Germain but the arrival of the former Inter wing-back could be entirely overshadowed by Kylian Mbappe’s departure this summer.

The French striker has now entered the final year of his contract in Paris and reports from France have suggested that the 22-year-old star is still seeking assurances about PSG’s sporting project before putting pen to paper.

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As such, some eagle-eyed fans of the Ligue 1 side may have noticed their president use certain terms and phrases in his remarks about Hakimi’s arrival that would have surely been aimed at Mbappe.

"We are happy to welcome Achraf Hakimi to Paris today," said PSG president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, in the club’s statement on Tuesday.

“The signing of a player of this stature shows the level of our ambitions. We continue to build something very special.

“Achraf is only 22 years old, but he's already established himself as one of the best full-backs in the world of football, and that's the standard we set for ourselves at the club.

“I know Ashraf will have a fantastic career with us and the whole club wish him every success under our colors."

Why hasn’t Mbappe signed a new PSG contract?

While transfer speculation has suggested that Mbappe could be more interested in a move to Real Madrid this summer or in 12 months time, it seems more likely that the young player is seeking some reassurances about committing his future to PSG.

Reports in France have stated that the young striker will only stay in Paris if the club make him the focal point of their plans going forward and build a team around him that can challenge for major trophies, such as the Champions League.

As such, Al-Khelaifi’s remarks about Hakimi being an example of the club’s elevated “ambitions” and how the player will help PSG “build something very special” seem like exactly the kind of things Mbappe would have been expecting from the club before committing to a new contract.