Ibrahima Konate could become the latest big name to leave Liverpool and Real Madrid are keen to sign him, but it looks like they won’t be able to easily lure him to Spain
Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate has admitted he was “too scared” to splurge for fear of criticism from his brothers. The French defender is at the center of a transfer tug-of-war, with Spanish giants Real Madrid keen to sign him.
Konate’s contract at Anfield expires next summer, so Los Blancos are looking to seal his chances on a free transfer. If that happens, the defender could end up putting pen to paper on an eye-popping deal at the Santiago Bernabéu.
His future is still up in the air, but Konate credits his brothers for keeping his feet firmly on the ground despite his rise, and he doesn’t intend to fly away either way. “I am the player I am today because of each and every one of them,” Konate admitted. “From my first steps at the University of Paris Club 20 years ago to Liverpool, they were always a fundamental help. I didn’t spend any money on hedonistic, personal pleasures. I didn’t have a new car, clothes, shoes, anything. I was too afraid of people saying I had changed.”
read more: Mo Salah needs to prove Liverpool were right to break FSG’s golden rule with their latest moveread more: Manager Jurgen Klopp gives verdict on Florian Wirtz’s struggles at Liverpool: “We can stop him”
And while Konate’s brothers kept him in check during the early years of his career, the Liverpool man admitted they encouraged him to handle himself a bit, albeit a bit too much.
She added: “I’m not going to lie, I went a little overboard, especially with the outfit.”
“You have no idea how much footballers need them (families). There are many people walking around us with more or less good intentions. 95% of them are here because I am Konate, the footballer, not Ibrahima as a person.”
“They want to take advantage of my fame, but they don’t really care about me (…) As soon as someone wants to get close to me, they exclude them.”
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Konate, 26, started his professional career with Sochaux in France before moving to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. The defender made 95 appearances for the club before joining Liverpool in 2021.
He made 142 appearances for the Reds, during which time they won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup. This season could be his last at Liverpool if he chooses not to sign a new contract with the club.
Meanwhile, Konate is suffering a mild headache after Reds manager Arne Slott was forced to withdraw from France due to injury.
“Ibrahima Konate, who injured his right quadriceps during the last match against Liverpool, has been receiving treatment and following protocols since his arrival on Monday this week, but will not be available as a substitute against Iceland,” the French national team said in a statement on Saturday.
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