Rabat – Achraf Hakimi and Ayyoub Bouaddi will be on opposite sides when Paris Saint-Germain face Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, in a meeting that brings together two of Morocco’s most prominent players.
The match comes after reports revealed that PSG monitored Bouaddi before he joined City from Lille in August, but decided against pursuing the midfielder during the summer transfer window.
PSG believed their midfield options were already sufficient, with Vitinha, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, Warren Zaïre-Emery and Senny Mayulu among the players available to coach Luis Enrique. City eventually secured Bouaddi’s signature on a contract running until 2031.
Hakimi enters the fixture after recovering from a thigh problem that disrupted his recent schedule. The Moroccan international returned to PSG’s squad against Le Mans on October 10 after receiving treatment and gradually resuming training. His availability gives Luis Enrique an important attacking option ahead of the European encounter.
As a right-back, Hakimi’s forward runs and pace could help PSG create problems for City’s defense. However, his attacking positioning could also leave space for the English side to exploit during counterattack, especially with the speed of the Norway international, Erling Haaland, who remains one of the strongest attacking options for Enzo Maresca.
PSG coach, Luis Enrique, has also included Hakimi in the shortlist of the players considered for penalty duties, underlining the confidence the coach places in Hakimi.
Bouaddi, meanwhile, has enjoyed a rapid rise this year, moving from Lille to City after establishing himself in senior football and featuring prominently for Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The young midfielder’s market value also reached €90 million in Transfermarkt’s latest update, placing him ahead of Hakimi, valued at €80 million.
Wednesday’s match will offer Bouaddi a chance to make his first mark with Man City and to face the club that reportedly considered signing him, although some reports suggest the player is set to start on the bench.
Meanwhile, Hakimi will look to help PSG overcome one of their major European rivals for most of the last decade.
