Real Madrid’s defensive setup is once again under scrutiny, this time with a focus on lessons from Achraf Hakimi’s early struggles at the club.
Spanish analyst Fran Garrido, speaking on the popular program El Chiringuito, highlighted Hakimi’s defensive limitations during his time with the Spanish giants, sparking debate about how the club develops its young talents.
Hakimi’s defensive struggles
“Hakimi defended very poorly [at Madrid], so he was used as a winger,” Garrido said in a clip shared on the show’s official X account.
The analyst argued that the Moroccan’s challenges in adapting to top-level defensive duties forced Real Madrid to shift him into an attacking role, a move that ultimately delayed his growth as a complete defender.
Garrido noted that Hakimi’s difficulties at the time contrasted sharply with the reputation he would later build at Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
Comparison with new recruit Dean Huijsen
Garrido drew a parallel between Hakimi’s past struggles and the current situation of 20-year-old Dean Huijsen, who joined Real Madrid from Bournemouth in the summer of 2025 for around £50 million. According to the analyst, Huijsen is experiencing similar defensive challenges, particularly amid the team’s recent struggles in maintaining a solid backline. Garrido stressed the need for careful management of Huijsen’s development to avoid repeating the scenario that saw Hakimi moved forward before finding his true form elsewhere.
Focus on defensive training
The analyst recommended intensified defensive training and guidance for Huijsen, highlighting that proper development at this stage is critical for the club to extract maximum potential. Garrido warned that mishandling the young defender could result in wasted talent, recalling Hakimi’s trajectory as a cautionary tale.
Hakimi’s evolution into one of the world’s leading full-backs serves as both a reminder of what the player is capable of and a warning about the delicate process of integrating young defenders at elite clubs.
