After playing a starring role in Inter Milan's Serie A triumph this season, Morocco international Achraf Hakimi has cleared the air about his departure from Real Madrid last year.
Hakimi broke into Real's first team under Zinedine Zidane, but was unable to cement a regular starting berth as Dani Carvajal was the side's first-choice right-back at the time.
The Moroccan was then loaned to Borussia Dortmund for two seasons, impressing immensely as a number of Europe's top sides reportedly became interested in securing his services.
Hakimi ended up joining Inter at the beginning of this campaign, but has since revealed he was keen stay in the Spanish capital.
"People are speaking, saying that I didn't want to compete for my position, and it wasn't like that.
"Everyone knows that Real Madrid was my home and that I would have liked to play there, but due to different circumstances I think the club decided otherwise.
"Everyone knows that I would have liked to have been there and won the position. People talk, but people don't know the reality.
"That bothers me a little, that people think I was afraid of winning or fighting for the position. I was the first one who asked if I could be there to win the position, because I felt qualified for it."
