Left-back Theo Hernandez and right-back Achraf Hakimi both were a part of Real Madrid at the starting of their career. Both things didn’t go according to plan for them at the Spanish capital, and they failed to break into the starting XI regularly.
Finally, they were deemed surplus to requirements and were sold. Theo Hernandez went to AC Milan, whereas Hakimi was on loan at Borussia Dortmund for two seasons before making a permanent move to Inter.
The former defensive pair at Real Madrid will now face each other in the Milan derby on Sunday. Inter are on top of the Serie A table with 50 points, followed by AC Milan with 49 points. This Milan derby holds much more importance as the winner will surely get a major boost in the race for the title.
Ahead of the Milan Derby, Theo Hernandez has told DAZN that he and Achraf Hakimi made the right decision to leave Real Madrid, and they have grown since then.
Hernandez told DAZN (via Marca): “Achraf and I weren’t playing much at Madrid and the best thing for us was to leave.”
“If you’re there and you don’t play, you’re not happy and you don’t have the opportunities that you’d like. We did our best and now we’re here in Milan”.
“Achraf is an incredible player, he’s got talent, speed and quality. We’re both quite similar. I know him personally and we’ve spent a lot of time together. He’s a great guy and a good friend of mine.”
“What will I say to him during the derby? I won’t say anything. On the pitch we’re enemies but off it we’re good friends”.
Theo Hernandez is also waiting for his first call up to the French national side.
He said: “I have to work every day and wait for the call-up. I don’t feel Spanish, I’m French. It’s true that I lived in Spain when I was young, but that doesn’t mean anything. I was born in France, my family is in France and I’m French.”
After a long period of Juventus dominance, the Milan sides are back in contention for the Serie A title. They pose as a serious title contender this season which will add an extra flavour to the Milan Derby on Sunday, 7:30 pm IST.
