Walid Regragui teased Achraf Hakimi during a light-hearted post-match exchange after Paris Saint-Germain beat FC Barcelona 4-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The Morocco manager was working as a consultant on Canal+’s Canal Champions Club when he was reunited with his former captain. Seeing Hakimi speaking in a post-match interview, Regragui quickly turned the conversation into a joke.
“He speaks good French, that’s what I like about Achraf,” Regragui said before picking up on the Paris Saint-Germain defender’s comments about feeling tired.
“You’re never tired, are you, Achraf? Since when have you been tired?” he asked with a smile, before congratulating Hakimi on his contribution to the victory.
Paris Saint-Germain inflicted Barcelona’s first defeat of the season in an entertaining match, although the game was overshadowed by the serious injury suffered by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Hakimi played a part in the result by providing the assist for Fabian Ruiz’s goal in the 86th minute. Regragui praised that contribution, but also used the occasion to remind his former player that he had not scored recently.
“It’s been a long time since you scored, Achraf, hasn’t it?” Regragui said.
The exchange reflected the close relationship formed between the two men during their four years working together with Morocco. Regragui coached Hakimi with the Atlas Lions, where the right-back established himself as one of the team’s senior figures before later becoming captain.
Their conversation ended in the same relaxed mood. As Hakimi continued his interview, Regragui encouraged him and jokingly reminded the defender that he was expecting an invitation to dinner during the week.
“Inchallah, Inchallah,” Hakimi replied with a smile.
Hakimi will now work under Morocco’s new manager, Mohamed Ouahbi. The right-back is due to face Niger at the end of November in a double-header forming part of the qualifying competition for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
