Mauricio Pochettino reveals Tottenham missed out on signing Achraf Hakimi in 2018

Speaking to UEFA (h/t Express), Mauricio Pochettino went on to reveal that Tottenham had missed out on the signing of Achraf Hakimi in 2018. Apparently, Spurs wanted to get him when he was at Real Madrid but the Moroccan chose to move to Borussia Dortmund instead.

Hakimi was one of those talents to emerge from Real Madrid that did not wait for his chances. After impressing in the sole season for the senior side, he moved to Dortmund on a two-year loan. During that time, he established his name as one of the finest wing-backs who could play on both flanks.

His emergence made Inter splash the cash on him in 2020 and he was an integral part of the side that won the Serie A last season. PSG came for his signature this season and he was among some of the biggest signings made this season by the club. However, it could have turned out a whole lot differently for Hakimi, Spurs and our former manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Now managing the defender at PSG, Pochettino revealed that Spurs were keeping tabs on the player ahead of his move to Dortmund.

“Achraf is a young player [I have] been following since [I was] at Tottenham. 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.”

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It’s surely food for thought as to how it could have all turned out had Spurs managed to get their hands on Hakimi. Given his performances and talent, it will feel like a missed opportunity all those years ago. However, Spurs do have another exciting prospect in Emerson Royal and they will be hoping he does well this season.