Hakimi Puts Bromance with Mbappé on Hold
'Mbappé is my friend, but each one defends his team,' Hakimi told reporters. 'I spoke with him before the tournament and he was sick, but now he is completely ready. I am happy to face him, but the most important thing is our team.'
Hakimi, 26, is expected to start at right-back for PSG in what will be one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament – Mbappé's first match against his former club since joining Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer.
Mbappé, who spent seven seasons at PSG, missed the group stage due to an inflammation in the stomach and intestines and has only featured from the bench in Madrid's knockout ties. But manager Xabi Alonso is reportedly ready to hand the 26-year-old his first start of the tournament.
Hakimi, who formed a well-known off-pitch bond with the French forward during their time in Paris, said that friendship will take a back seat for 90 minutes: 'As I said, he is a good friend of mine, and [meeting him in the semifinals will] be great, but I will defend the colours of my team, which is the most important thing of all.'
Nuno Mendes has the same sentiment: 'Yes, there's something extra because [Mbappé] was here with us. But the truth is that we're prepared to play against the entire Real Madrid team – that's our objective.'
PSG are chasing their first-ever Club World Cup Final appearance, and Hakimi has made it clear – their friendship can wait. Tags: HakimiKylian MbappePSGReal Madrid
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