With greater than six months nonetheless to go till the tip of the 2025–26 season, Europe’s high golf equipment are already planning to reshape their rosters for subsequent 12 months. In that context, rumors a few Liverpool star presumably being transferred to Actual Madrid contain Kylian Mbappe.
Throughout a latest interview with Telefoot, Ibrahima Konate had a humorous — and revealing — change. “Is it true you communicate Spanish?” the interviewer requested, prompting a laughing, unfavorable response from the French defender, who rapidly understood the explanation behind the weird query.
“The Spanish press says you’re a Actual Madrid mission. Has Kylian Mbappe known as you to signal?” the French reporter pressed. That led to an surprising reply from Konate: “Mbappe calls me each two hours.”
Though the interview had a light-weight tone and befell in a joking context, the Liverpool defender’s phrases carry severe weight. It is vitally doubtless that Actual Madrid will want top-tier middle backs for subsequent season, and the French star has been talked about for months as considered one of their priorities.
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool seems on throughout a Premier League match.
Actual Madrid have issues with their defenders
Actual Madrid’s roster presently contains 5 top-level middle backs. Amongst them, Dean Huijsen seems to supply probably the most ensures proper now, contemplating his wonderful performances and youth. Eder Militao has performed the identical variety of matches this season as Huijsen, 13, however his latest historical past of significant accidents nonetheless raises long-term issues. The third possibility this 12 months below Xabi Alonso has been Raul Asencio, one other younger participant who has progressively earned extra taking part in time.
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Lastly, the final two circumstances are probably the most delicate: Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba. They’re probably the most skilled middle backs within the squad, at 32 and 33 years previous respectively, and each are nearing the tip of their contracts. In response to stories, their future on the membership is unsure — and it’s rather than these two that Los Blancos might search for a brand new famous person to bolster the protection.
Ibrahima Konate’s state of affairs at Liverpool
In 2021, Liverpool paid €35 million (round $46 million) to RB Leipzig to signal Ibrahima Konate. Since then, the French defender has performed 148 matches with the Reds throughout the Premier League, home cups, and European competitions, recording 6 objectives and 5 titles.
Now firmly established as Virgil van Dijk’s companion in protection and having been a key piece in final season’s Premier League title, Konate finds himself at a decisive second in his skilled profession: his contract with Liverpool expires on June 30, 2026 and, though he has acquired gives to increase it, he has not but carried out so.
The supposed curiosity from Actual Madrid may very well be a significant factor in that call. And, as he himself admitted jokingly in his latest interview with Telefoot, Kylian Mbappe additionally performs a job. They’ve been teammates on the France nationwide staff since 2022 and performed collectively on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in addition to the 2024 Euro. Maybe that bond will matter when Konate decides his future.
