Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi may not start in next weekend’s Champions League final against Arsenal in Budapest.
The Morocco international is widely regarded as one of the best right-backs in world football, but his fitness is currently uncertain.
The 27-year-old picked up a thigh injury during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich at home.
He has subsequently been on the sidelines. Warren Zaire-Emery slotted in his position during the second leg against Bayern away.
L’Equipe now claim that the former Inter Milan man has yet to return to team training. He has been working individually of late.
Hakimi is slotted to return to full training on Wednesday, but it appears ‘unlikely’ that he will make the starting XI to face Arsenal on May 30.
Arsenal handed a boost for the UCL final
The Gunners have been handed a boost ahead of the Champions League final with the possibility that Hakimi may not be fit to start for Les Parisiens.
The Moroccan is a tough competitor and has the knack for making regular overlapping runs to create chances for the front men. He is also a goalscoring threat and netted against the Gunners in the Champions League semi-final last season.
His absence from the first XI should benefit the Gunners, and they should seek to capitalise on any potential weakness for Zaire-Emery, who is a midfielder by trade.
Arsenal likewise have problems of their own in the right-back slot. Ben White has been ruled out for the campaign with a knee injury, while Jurrien Timber is not fit yet.
Timber has been nursing a nagging groin issue and faces a race against time to make the final. Even if he does, the Dutchman could be a substitute similar to Hakimi.
That means Cristhian Mosquera could come up against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the right side. He has a stern challenge on his hands to nullify the Georgian’s threat.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com