Ibrahima Konaté set to join Real Madrid after two turbulent months | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Ibrahima Konaté will become a Real Madrid player in the coming days on a four-year deal. Florentino Pérez, re-elected on Sunday, is expected to confirm the move on Tuesday, keeping a campaign promise.

Just two months ago that scenario seemed unlikely. After a year and a half of talks, Liverpool and the defender reached an agreement in principle on a long-term extension, and he even began house-hunting.

Within weeks, the accord collapsed amid rare internal discord at Liverpool. Sporting director Richard Hughes was quietly negotiating a move to Saudi Arabia, while poor late-season results fuelled criticism of Arne Slot’s project. The Dutchman was dismissed and Andoni Iraola was appointed, despite Iraola having agreed to join Crystal Palace 15 days earlier.

Those upheavals led to the financial terms being reconsidered and prompted a swift announcement last week that Konaté would leave Liverpool. Real Madrid had already opened talks with his camp, and incoming coach José Mourinho pushed for a top-level centre-back after sounding out French contacts. Despite a trophyless season and a heated internal climate, Madrid’s hierarchy convinced him to commit.

A clause required Pérez to be re-elected for ratification, a condition now met. Konaté is not expected to undergo an immediate medical, his file has been used as the basis, and he will fly to the United States on Wednesday. In the coming weeks he will join Aurélien Tchouaméni, Kylian Mbappé, Eduardo Camavinga or Ferland Mendy.

Source: L'Équipe