Achraf to return to Real Madrid for treatment on foot fracture
The Morocco right back, on loan at Borussia Dortmund, will miss the rest of the season with the Africa Cup of Nations also a dount after breaking a metatarsal.
Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that on-loan Real Madrid defender Achraf Hakimi fractured a bone in his foot in the 2-0 victory against Wolfsburg on Saturday and will miss the rest of the season. The 20-year-old will return to his parent club for treatment where two matters of importance will be decided: whether or not Zinedine Zidane will make an attempt to bring Achraf back to the Bernabéu permanently this summer and if he will be fit to play for his country in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
More immediately, Lucien Favre has lost one of his most influential players ahead of the potentially Bundesliga-deciding match against Bayern Munich this weekend. Achraf has been one of the revelations of the season in Germany and is Favre’s sixth most-used player across all competitions. The right back has chipped in with two goals and four assists in the Bundesliga as Dortmund have battled Bayern for the title and has 19 league starts to his name.
Zidane a fan of Achraf but Dortmund loan is two years
Achraf was sent out on loan after the departure of Zidane and the purchase of Álvaro Odriozola last summer but he was a part of the Frenchman’s plans in 2017-18, making 17 appearances for Real Madrid. Zidane is a fan of the Morocco international and although the loan agreement with Dortmund is for two seasons, Real may look to cut it short given the 20-year-old’s impressive form for the Bundesliga side, although some form of compensation would be required and Dortmund have already stated their interest in a permanent deal for Achraf.
Meanwhile, Morocco coach Hervé Renard faces an anxious wait to see if his star defender will be available for the Africa Cup of Nations, which runs from 21 June to 19 July. Achraf played in all but one qualifier as Morocco topped Group B to reach the finals in Egypt, providing three assists from the right back and left back positions. In his most recent appearance for his country and his 18th cap in total, Achraf played on the left of midfield in a 1-0 defeat to Argentina.