'It was easier when he was single' - Achraf Hakimi appears to confirm Kylian Mbappe's new romance

In a candid moment on the popular French podcast 'The Bridge', Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi offered a light-hearted take on his friendship with his best friend and former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappé, now at Real Madrid.

Joking about how their off-pitch bromance has evolved, Hakimi revealed that hanging out with his former teammate has grown more complicated now that Mbappé is no longer single.

The remark, delivered with his signature humour during a relaxed couch conversation alongside Los Blancos star Aurélien Tchouaméni and comedian Malik Bentalha, quickly went viral after being clipped and shared by football accounts across social media.

When asked how their close bond has remained solid since they first met at PSG, Hakimi confessed on The Bridge Podcast:

“When you step outside the locker room, you don’t want to see the same face you see everyday. There are people with their families, their children, and….with him [Kylian] it was easier to meet up because he was single. He was all alone. No, I’m kidding.”

What once involved spontaneous plans and easy availability has shifted into the realities of relationship commitments and packed schedules.

Mbappé and Hakimi won 9 trophies together during their time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) including three consecutive Ligue 1 titles between 2021 and 2024.

Though Hakimi did not explicitly mention the name of the woman who would've stolen Mbappe's heart, the quote spread rapidly across platforms, sparking laughs, memes and plenty of banter as fans dissected the subtle nod to how personal milestones can reshape even the tightest bonds in the football world.

The playful remark has taken on fresh resonance amid swirling speculation surrounding Mbappé’s sizzling romance with Spanish actress Ester Expósito, the breakout star of Netflix’s Elite.

The pair have been spotted together multiple times in both Madrid and Paris since late February 2026, from cozy low-key outings to Expósito being seen supporting him at the Santiago Bernabéu.

While neither has officially confirmed the relationship, the sightings have fuelled intense media coverage and fan excitement that Mbappé has embraced a new chapter in his personal life.