Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi caught his former team-mate off guard
Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi admitted Lionel Messi's unassuming personality struck him by surprise.
The Inter Miami superstar sensationally left Barcelona for the French champions in 2021 in a transfer that rocked the footballing world. Joining the Parisian club alongside the likes of Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Georginio Wijnaldum, Messi's arrival meant a new dawn was occurring at the club, who already had both Kylian Mbappe and Neymar on their books.
Having also joined PSG in the same transfer window as the Argentine hero, Hakimi admitted that Messi's quiet personality in the dressing room surprised him. Born and raised in Spain, the Moroccan international rose through the ranks of Real Madrid and had a front-row seat to the legendary El Clasico battles Messi and Barcelona had against his former club.
Speaking to French outlet L'Equipe just weeks after Messi's arrival in the French capital, Hakimi admitted that regardless of their past rivalry, it was a "dream" to later share the pitch with the man who went on to lead his nation to World Cup glory in 2022.
[
Lionel Messi's cheeky Christmas gift to 160 opponents – including several Premier League stars](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lionel-messi-christmas-gift-opponents-34345673)
"For Messi to leave Barca, like everyone else, I didn't expect it," said the defender. "And when I heard you were coming here, what can I say? A dream for me!
"I played with many great players and the only one I missed was Messi! I am proud to evolve with such a good footballer. To progress, I will pay attention to how he trains, how he plays.
"It will grow the team and each of the players that make it up. We speak the same language, in addition, little by little we are getting to know each other.
PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 14: Achraf Hakimi, Georginio Wijnaldum, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Lionel Messi of PSG during the new recruits of PSG presentation ahead of the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and RC Strasbourg Alsace at Parc des Princes stadium on August 14, 2021 in Paris, France
Hakimi and Messi joined the French giants together in the summer of 2021
"Building a technical relationship with him is easy! I give him the ball, I run and he will put it where it belongs! I was surprised by the way he behaved, he is simple, quiet."
Messi spent just two seasons in Ligue 1, where he won the league title in both years before leaving European football to join David Beckham's Inter Miami in the MLS.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.