Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique has firmly shut down speculation regarding the club’s transfer plans, explicitly stating he has no intention of signing a backup right-back for Achraf Hakimi, according to recent press disclosures.
The decision comes as the French giants navigate a demanding fixture list. Hakimi, regarded by his manager as the best right-back in the world, anchors a squad that must regularly adapt its tactical shapes. For a club competing at the highest level of European football, the reliance on a single primary option at the position sparks annual debate during every transfer window.
Why Luis Enrique Refuses to Buy a Backup Right-Back
Speaking in a press conference covered by CulturePSG, Luis Enrique explained that signing a specialist replacement for Hakimi makes little sporting or financial sense. The Spanish manager argued that because the Morocco international maintains elite fitness and rarely misses matches, any incoming understudy would inevitably grow frustrated by a lack of playing time.
He further emphasized the economic and psychological hurdles of such a signing, noting that acquiring a quality defender requires substantial financial investment, yet a secondary player would ultimately become unmotivated after featuring in only a handful of fixtures.
Last season, Hakimi led the Paris Saint-Germain squad in playing time with an exhaustive total of 4,667 minutes on the pitch. The heavy workload has carried directly into the current campaign, where the defender stands as the team’s second most-used outfield player behind Warren Zaïre-Emery, accumulating 834 minutes of action.
Internal Solutions and Tactical Flexibility at Parc des Princes
Rather than committing significant transfer funds to a traditional reserve full-back, Luis Enrique prefers utilizing versatile squad members and academy prospects. Over recent months, the tactical blueprint has seen midfielders such as João Neves and Warren Zaïre-Emery deployed in hybrid defensive roles, alongside occasional shifts for Senny Mayulu and Nuno Mendes.
Upcoming Fixture Pressures and International Absences
The debate over squad depth gains additional urgency as winter tournament schedules approach. With Morocco set to host the Africa Cup of Nations from Dec. 21 to Jan. 18, Paris Saint-Germain faces a stretch of three to four matches without their right-back. Despite these impending absences, Luis Campos is not expected to pursue a permanent right-sided defender in the upcoming winter transfer window, with the club instead trusting its established internal solutions to bridge any gaps.
Paris Saint-Germain returns to competitive action as the domestic league calendar progresses, with coaching staff and analysts closely monitoring player recovery rates ahead of the next round of fixtures.
