Hakimi: I want Mbappe to stay, but I support his decision anyways

PSG's

Achraf Hakimi

praised

Kylian Mbappe

as "one of the best in the world" and expressed his hope that the attacker will remain at the club. 

The Morocco international, on the other hand, stated that he will back Mbappe in whatever choice he makes at the conclusion of the season since the forward's contract is slated to lapse in June. 

Mbappe has 31 goals and 18 assists – both club highs – in 39 games this season in all competitions as PSG closes in on the

championship. 

However, the club's

loss to Real Madrid last month has fuelled rumors that Mbappe may leave Paris for Los Blancos when his contract ends.

Hakimi is keen for Mbappe's contract in Paris to be extended for the next five years. 

"Mbappe is one of the best in the world and he is my friend," Hakimi told Telefoot. 

"I want him to stay here, he knows. He will decide what he thinks is best for his career, and I will support him."

can take a significant step towards securing their eighth league trophy in ten years when they meet second-placed Marseille in Sunday's Classique, and Hakimi stressed the significance of winning that match to soothe the club's dissatisfied supporters. 

Despite the fact that PSG's superb offensive three of Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Neymar have scored PSG's past 11 Ligue 1 goals, the latter two have suffered jeers from their own fans since the Parisians' 3-2 aggregate loss to Madrid.

"I know there is a particular expectation and a lot of rivalry [between PSG and Marseille]," Hakimi added. "I experienced it the first time at the Velodrome [a 0-0 draw in October]. It is a game that can decide the fate of the championship. 

"Our fans deserve this victory and this tenth league title [in the club's history]. We have had a very bad few weeks. 

"It's hard when your fans don't support you. Winning against Marseille is the best we can do to keep them cheering us on until the end of the season."

Despite the fact that it has been almost a month after the team's Champions League loss at the Santiago Bernabeu when a Karim Benzema hat-trick eliminated PSG after Mbappe had scored once in each game, Hakimi admits he is still baffled. 

"It is difficult to realise that we are out of the Champions League," he added. "We had the mechanisms to get ahead. The truth is that I cannot explain it. Even today, when I think about it, I don't understand it. I understand that the fans are sad, so are we. 

"At this level, small details make the difference, we have to correct them next year. That's what will make us champions."

PSG have only lost one of their past 19 Ligue 1 matches against Marseille, winning 14 of them and maintaining clean sheets in five of the last seven.

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