Ibrahima Konate: Will Liverpool receive a transfer fee as Real Madrid move is confirmed? | OneFootball

Real Madrid paid a fee for Trent Alexander-Arnold a year ago, and have now moved for his former team-mate

Konate becomes the third new arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu, this week alone, after Marc Cucurella and Bernardo Silva were announced to kickstart Jose Mourinho’s second spell in charge.

The Frenchman, currently away on international duty at the World Cup, will officially join Real Madrid on July 1 and has agreed to sign a four-year deal with the Spanish giants.

Konate appeared to be on course to sign a new contract with Liverpool when then-head coach Arne Slot said in April there was little more to do than “iron out” minor details.

However, it was confirmed shortly after the final day of the Premier League season that the defender would be leaving and he posted a farewell message to supporters on Instagram.

He wrote: “Representing this club has been an honour. We have shared incredible moments together… with highs and lows, trophies, challenges, lifelong friendships, and heartbreaking moments that will stay with us forever, none more painful than losing our brother Diogo.

“I am deeply saddened now that I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to all of you at the last game. At that moment, I didn’t know it would be my final time wearing this shirt in front of you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything.

“I love you all and will carry Liverpool with me wherever I go.”

Reunited: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate

Getty

Konate joining Real Madrid means it is now two summers in a row which Liverpool have lost a key player to the Spanish capital on a free transfer.

A year ago, Trent Alexander-Arnold made the switch to Madrid and banked his boyhood club a £10million fee in the process - this was done to to expedite the transfer ahead of the Club World Cup.

Will Liverpool receive a fee for Ibrahima Konate?

No. To put it simply. Konate and Alexander-Arnold’s situations - while similar in that they have joined Real Madrid as free agents - are totally different.

As mentioned above, Madrid paid a fee for Alexander-Arnold to ensure they would have him available for the Club World Cup and he went on to make his debut against Al-Hilal, playing just over an hour of the 1-1 draw.

This summer there is no club international tournament taking place, hence why Los Blancos do not need to speed up the deal. Therefore, Konate will complete his free transfer on July 1.