Ibrahima Konate says no to jaw-dropping contract offer ahead of Real Madrid deal | OneFootball

Ibrahima Konate is going to join Real Madrid.

It looks certain that the France defender will move to the Bernabeu as soon as Florentino Perez is confirmed as president.

Elections take place on June 7 with it seen as a formality that the long-serving exec will retain his position against the challenge of Enrique Riquelme.

Konate, 27, is expected to be the cornerstone of the new project with incoming coach Jose Mourinho okaying the centre-back’s arrival.

Liverpool were hopeful of an agreement with Konate ahead of his contract expiring on June 30, 2026. Club officials - including sporting director Richard Hughes - are reported to have been in dialogue for around two years over a new deal.

But no agreement could be struck for the defender - who first joined Liverpool back in 2021 on a £35m deal from RB Leipzig.

Konate rejects Saudi offer

Konate’s priority for a lucrative Bosman deal has always been Madrid according to previous reports - although a deal looked in jeopardy when the 15-time European champions distanced themselves from a move back in November.

It all now looks to have been resolved with a report in TEAMtalk now claiming that the Les Bleus international knocked back a jaw-dropping contract offer from Saudi Arabia in favour of the Bernabeu.

“Konate rejected what have been described as “massive” offers from the Saudi Pro League in order to complete a move to the Bernabeu,” the report reads.

“The Frenchman is understood to have prioritised remaining at the highest level of European football and was attracted by the opportunity to join one of the continent’s most successful clubs.”