Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has opened up about the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup semifinal clash against his close friend Kylian Mbappé.
PSG and Real Madrid are set to face off on Wednesday at MetLife Stadium, with both teams eager to secure a place in the final.
Speaking to DAZN ahead of the match, the Moroccan international acknowledged his friendship with Mbappé but emphasized their commitment to their respective teams.
“Mbappé is my friend, but we each defend our own team,” he said.
“I spoke with Mbappe before the tournament, and he was sick, but he is completely ready now.
“I’m happy to face Mbappe, but the most important thing is our team,” he added.
Mbappé missed Real Madrid’s group-stage matches after falling ill with a fever just hours before their opening game against Al Hilal.
However, he has since featured as a substitute in the knockout rounds, coming off the bench against Juventus and Dortmund.
The highly anticipated semifinal kicks off at 19:00 GMT.
