Real Madrid have reportedly informed Liverpool that they have “no interest” in signing Ibrahima Konaté, despite widespread speculation linking the France international to the Spanish giants as his contract winds down. Konaté, whose current deal expires at the end of the season, is eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs from January 1, but it remains uncertain whether he will depart Anfield as a free agent.
The Athletic reported that Real Madrid directly communicated their stance to Liverpool, stating clearly that they were not pursuing the 26-year-old defender. The publication noted, “The La Liga side have informed their Premier League counterparts directly and unequivocally that, despite such heavy speculation, they now have no interest in recruiting the France international.”
Liverpool had made efforts to extend Konaté’s stay since 2023, and the responsibility of securing a renewal later fell to sporting director Richard Hughes after his appointment in June 2024. However, a poor start to the season, both for the Reds and Konaté personally, is believed to have cast uncertainty over his future. The defender has been a regular under Arne Slot but has struggled alongside his teammates in what has become a difficult Premier League title defence.
Konaté was heavily criticised after a costly mistake during Liverpool’s 4–1 Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven, their ninth loss in 12 games, and he was taken off after just 55 minutes. The defeat came on the heels of a 3–0 humiliation at home to Nottingham Forest. In Premier League matches featuring Konaté this season, Liverpool have conceded 17 goals, an average of one every 58 minutes, placing added scrutiny on his performances.
Amid mounting criticism, Konaté addressed supporters directly in a message on X, acknowledging both the team’s struggles and the importance of fan support. He wrote, “We have to take this moment on the chest. Criticism is part of football, and we’ll fight back every time and come through this storm. In these moments, the fans matter most. The ones who stand with us in the good times and the bad, the ones who sing for us even in the difficult moments! Your voice and your support mean everything to us. We know we need to improve and we’ll keep fighting for you. Always.”
Pressure continues to build on Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot, with senior players such as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah also facing questions over their form. With Real Madrid now distancing themselves from Konaté, the defender’s long-term future at Anfield remains unresolved as the January window approaches.
