Zidane gave Hakimi his debut at Real Madrid before the defender left for Borussia Dortmund.
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He recalled to Canal+: "What did he instill in me? He gave me confidence.
"I was in the reserve team with Castilla, I was 17 or 18, and he invited me to the first team and let me play. I will be eternally grateful to him; he's not just any coach who would do something like that.
"He was among the first to give me the chance to make my professional debut.
"I learned a lot from him, from his relationship with the players, from the way he communicates... He spoke to us as if we were his children, as if he were giving advice to his son Luca, and he wanted the best for me."