Ibrahima Konaté’s future lies with Real Madrid, but there are two possible arrival dates and everything is up in the air. The player could arrive on a free transfer next summer after his contract with Liverpool expires, but Xabi Alonso’s request for a center back this summer could speed up his arrival upon payment of a transfer fee. Florentino Pérez has been firm with the amount he is willing to pay, which complicates the deal.
Konaté is the chosen one
It is an open secret that Ibrahima Konaté is the center back Real Madrid wants. He is a fast center back, strong in the air and with great leadership skills. The player seems determined to play for the Whites and the deal is progressing. There are two options on the table: the preferred option is to wait until the end of the season without paying a transfer fee, or to bring the decision forward and pay Liverpool for the player so that he can join a defense that has made serious mistakes during the tournament.
Problem with his price for this summer
Melchor Ruiz on ‘El Partidazo de COPE’ has stated the following: “Real Madrid is waiting for the possibility of him arriving for free next summer.
The player would be interested in joining the Whites.” The journalist himself has made it clear that the possibility of him arriving this summer depends on a transfer in which Florentino has set a price and will not budge, no matter how much Liverpool demands. Liverpool will have to decide between receiving something for his departure or letting him leave for free next summer, as happened with Trent.
The price Real Madrid has in mind is between €20 and €25 million for Ibrahima Konaté this summer, nothing more. However, Liverpool wants at least €50 million for the center back this summer. The white team is not considering paying that, as it now knows that Konaté has decided to sign with them anyway and is playing that card in the negotiations.
“Konaté can succeed at Madrid or wherever he sets his mind to.”
In an interview with MARCA, Éric Hély, the coach who gave him his debut at the age of 17 at Sochaux, spoke about the player’s characteristics and what he could bring to Real Madrid with his signing. “The good thing about Ibrahima is that he listens and accepts.
There are many young players who would have complained and even said they didn’t want to play center back. He accepted it, I told him that the best would come to him in that position, and the truth is that he was an extraordinary kid. Because of his qualities on the field, his size, his power, but also because of his maturity at 17,” he said.
“I don’t see him as a Varane. He’s more of a Desailly type. He’s very reliable and has great footwork. I’d say he’s better than Rüdiger, who is undoubtedly an athlete, but I think Ibrahima is technically stronger. I’m sure he can succeed at Madrid and wherever he sets his mind to. I think he would adapt very well with Xabi. He can play in a three-man defense, as he did at Leipzig, and in a back four,“ he said.
”If he did it at Liverpool, why not at Madrid? I’m sure that if he joins Xabi’s dressing room, he won’t talk much at first. He’ll listen and learn, and then he’ll impose himself on the group because of the way he is,” he said.