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Journalist Bertrand Latour has claimed that Paris Saint-Germain attempted to censor part of Achraf Hakimi’s interview with Canal+ in August, in which the Moroccan defender spoke about his Ballon d’Or chances.
Speaking on Aliotop, Latour said the club “did not appreciate” Hakimi’s remarks about deserving the 2025 Ballon d’Or, later won by Ousmane Dembélé.
“If I have the chance to win it, I think I deserve it too,” Hakimi said at the time. “After the historic season I’ve had – not many players have scored in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final – and it’s more difficult as a defender.”
Latour said PSG had been keen to focus all its media attention on Dembélé, and the club was unhappy with Hakimi’s comments.
“For the Ballon d’Or, I thought he would give a more conventional answer, which is probably what Paris Saint-Germain expected,” Latour said. “We understood that PSG didn’t want him to say that. But I thought he was brave.”
When asked if PSG had requested the clip be removed, Latour replied: “Yes. And those who say otherwise are outright liars.”
The matter was reportedly handled internally, avoiding tensions between Hakimi and Dembélé ahead of the Ballon d’Or ceremony in September.
