Achraf Hakimi: Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal my reference

Achraf Hakimi, currently on loan at Borussia Dortmund from Real Madrid, has cited Dani Carvajal as a ‘reference’ for his own career.

Right-back Carvajal left Madrid in 2012 to spend a year at German club Bayer Leverkusen before returning to Los Blancos to become a regular starter.

Hakimi, 20, is primarily a right-sided defender who can also play in the heart of the defence and he has already amassed 14 caps for Morocco, including all three group matches at this summer’s World Cup.

“For me Carvajal is a reference point and I can look to what he has done and is doing with his career,” Achraf told an interview with Marca.

“He went to German football and thrived professionally to return to the club and become a regular, and maybe I am on the same path right now, I feel that I am growing a lot.

“Why did I join Borussia? There were offers from elsewhere and in Spain but this is a historic club that I believed would allow me to grow and hopefully I can stay on this path.

“I cannot say where I will be next year or the season after, right now I am focused on my time with Dortmund and not thinking too much about what my future holds.

“Marcelo’s form? I could never criticise him and anyone who does is being unfair, this is an icon of Real Madrid who has achieved everything.

“Full-backs who go forward always leave themselves open to criticism and their benefit to the team does not receive its proper acknowledgement.

“Real Madrid are not having their best season but I have every confidence they will come through this.”

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