The "Foot 01" website revealed that the management of the Paris Saint-Germain team intends to enter the next winter transfer market, in order to sign the Portuguese right-back Alberto Costa. The French website added that Alberto Costa, the Porto player, will compete with Moroccan Achraf Hakimi to play in the official squad of the giant Parisian team.
The same source explained that the Paris Saint-Germain team includes a squad full of top-class players, but the French capital team is awaiting any opportunity available in the transfer market, in order to strengthen its ranks and continue to ascend to the local and continental podiums.
Several French press reports indicated that Luis Campos, the sporting director of Paris Saint-Germain, has a number of options to strengthen the right-back position, especially since the Parisian team does not have a replacement for Achraf Hakimi.
Luis Campos is watching Porto's right-back, Alberto Costa (23 years old). Alberto Costa is expected to be a real competitor to Achraf Hakimi, and present him with a challenge to maintain his starting place.
Alberto Costa has a strong physical structure and great speed on the green rectangle. Costa was able to attract the interest of several football clubs, especially from England. Costa's market value currently stands at around 18 million euros. Costa has a contract with the Porto team that extends until the summer of 2030, according to the Transfer Market website.
Returning to Achraf Hakimi’s history with injuries, it is noted that the Moroccan international did not suffer much from injury several years ago. The most severe injury Hakimi suffered was in March 2019 with his former German team, Borussia Dortmund.
Hakimi suffered a metatarsal fracture that kept him out of action for about 67 days. However, things have clearly changed with the French team Paris Saint-Germain, as the Moroccan international has become very vulnerable to injury. In the 2021 season, Hakimi suffered a hamstring injury. The same injury occurred again in the 2022, 2023 and 2025 seasons.
In the 2025 season, Hakimi suffered a severe sprain in his left ankle. The injury forced him to stay away from the field for about two months.
Recently, Hakimi suffered a hamstring injury in the Paris Saint-Germain match against Brest in the French League. Hakimi returned to the stadiums after recovering from the injury, and participated in the Moroccan national team’s match against Lesotho, which ended with the “Atlas Lions” winning by two unanswered goals.
It is believed that a large part of Achraf Hakimi's injuries are due to too many matches and not getting enough rest. Achraf Hakimi is one of the most used players in coach Luis Enrique's squad. Hakimi participates in almost all matches, whether local or continental.
Achraf Hakimi has been playing at this high level for years, which makes him constantly vulnerable to injury, especially since some matches in the Champions League competition witness great competition and excitement for 90 minutes.
In addition, Hakimi holds the captaincy of the Moroccan national team, and participates with it in almost all matches. Recently, Hakimi participated with Morocco in the 2026 World Cup, in which the Moroccan team reached the quarter-finals, and was eliminated from the tournament by the French team with two unanswered goals.
Recently, Achraf Hakimi received a strong blow after the French Court of Cassation confirmed that Ashraf Hakimi had been referred to trial on charges of rape, according to what Agence France-Presse reported.
The Court of Appeal had upheld Ashraf Hakimi’s referral to trial, a decision that was initially issued in February, on charges of raping a young woman in 2023. Ashraf Hakimi strongly denies this charge, and appealed to the Court of Cassation shortly after this decision.
In 2023, a then 24-year-old woman reported to police in Paris that Hakimi had raped her. The plaintiff said that she met Hakimi through the Instagram application, and went to his house in a taxi requested by Hakimi. She claimed that the Paris Saint-Germain player kissed and touched her without her consent, then raped her.
The cassation appeal was the last means of appeal available to Ashraf Hakimi within the French judicial system, after a judge decided to refer him before the Criminal Court on charges of rape, before Hakimi appealed the initial decision and then filed an appeal with the Court of Cassation.
It is noteworthy that the referral decision or rejection of the appeal is not considered a condemnation of Ashraf Hakimi. Hakimi continues to enjoy the presumption of innocence until a final judicial ruling is issued in this case, which is preoccupying Moroccan and French public opinion.
On the other hand, Paris Saint-Germain is dealing with the Achraf Hakimi case with great caution. The club said in a statement published by the French newspaper Le Parisien: “Achraf Hakimi has always strongly denied the allegations against him, and remains innocent until proven guilty. The club is committed to providing a calm and respectful work environment for its player, consistent with basic legal principles.” He added: "The club reaffirms its firm and unequivocal commitment to combating all forms of violence, especially sexual violence."
In the face of this complex situation, Achraf Hakimi is trying to focus only on football, give his best on the field, and prove that he is the best right back in the world. Hakimi is working to send clear signals that he is calm in the face of all the challenges that surround him from every side.
But hiring a replacement for him has great qualities, and his problems with the French judiciary. All of these are things that may affect the level and psychology of Ashraf Hakimi, who is living in one of the most difficult periods in his personal and professional life.
