Ibrahima Konaté's contract with Liverpool expires in the summer of 2026, at which point he will become a free agent. In recent weeks, Konaté and Liverpool's senior management have held negotiations over a contract extension, but the process has not gone smoothly. Despite recent communications between the two parties, Liverpool's management has maintained a firm stance on the extension, meaning no substantial progress has been made in the negotiations so far.
Under such circumstances, Konaté has made his position clear: if he does leave Liverpool, Real Madrid is the only destination in his mind and his first choice. The French defender has clearly and firmly conveyed this wish through multiple channels: if he makes a transfer, the only destination will be Real Madrid. Konaté believes that after joining Real Madrid, at the Santiago Bernabéu, a world-class football arena, he will have more opportunities to showcase himself, take his career to a higher level, and achieve greater improvement in his competitive level.
Currently, Real Madrid does not have an urgent need to sign Konaté, and the player himself is aware of this. Therefore, he is currently waiting patiently, preparing to start pre-season preparations with his Liverpool teammates.
It is worth noting that although many Saudi clubs have extended olive branches to Konaté, and Saudi Arabia holds a certain appeal for him in terms of religious culture and other aspects, Konaté believes that he is currently in the prime of his career. It is not yet time to leave Europe's top leagues, and he hopes to continue proving himself in higher-level competitions.
Konaté's team has recently sent a very clear and firm signal to Real Madrid. This move may prompt Real Madrid to take action, replicating the model used when signing Arnold this summer, to make early arrangements and plans for signing Konaté on a free transfer.
