Agreement Reached for Ibrahima Konate as Liverpool Sends Strong Message to Real Madrid
Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate has been under fire this season amid the team’s defensive issues, but former Premier League stars Conor Coady and Rio Ferdinand have publicly defended the French centre-back.
Both Coady and Ferdinand dismissed the criticism surrounding Konate’s recent performances, arguing that the scrutiny has been unfair. Liverpool, despite being reigning Premier League champions, have struggled defensively in recent weeks, inviting questions about their backline.
Konate’s form has been a key talking point, with Liverpool looking shaky at the back even after opening the campaign with five straight wins. With the 26-year-old’s contract due to expire next summer, the club risks losing him for free, especially as Real Madrid have reportedly renewed their interest.
The Spanish giants have tracked Konate for some time, and reports suggest Xabi Alonso’s side could once again exploit the free-agent market to secure his signature. Amid uncertainty over his Anfield future, Konate has struggled for consistency this season—mixing solid displays against Arsenal and Everton with costly mistakes versus Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Galatasaray.
Ferdinand believes speculation linking Konate to Madrid has made him an easy target for criticism.
“There’s no way Konate suddenly became a poor player,” Ferdinand argued. “It’s the Real Madrid links that have led to this negativity. When fans or pundits get frustrated, they start blaming him, even for minor errors. If a mistake occurs, he’s the one who gets singled out.”
Liverpool’s defensive lapses have overshadowed their late-goal heroics this season. The Reds have scored late equalisers in recent league matches only to concede decisive goals in stoppage time—such as Estevao Willian’s winner last week, reminiscent of Eddie Nketiah’s strike the week before.
New signings Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez have also faced criticism, while Conor Bradley’s form has dipped. Coady suggested that Konate’s struggles stem largely from a lack of defensive support.
“From a centre-back’s point of view, I feel for him,” Coady said. “He’s being asked to defend in wide areas because players like Frimpong or Conor Bradley are out of position, or Szoboszlai isn’t covering in midfield. Opponents are exploiting that space, and Konate’s having to step out and defend like a right-back—which no centre-half wants to do.
“Trent used to move into midfield, and people said he couldn’t defend, but now the team’s shape leaves that channel completely open. Konate’s being exposed in a huge area of the pitch, and that’s not where a centre-back belongs.”
