Despite seeing his game time at Liverpool limited by injuries this season, Ibrahima Konaté was called up by Didier Deschamps to be a part of the France squad for the World Cup in Qatar, where he could be in line to start against Australia.
When in top form, there’s no denying the Frenchman is a great partner for Virgil Van Dijk, as well as a threat from set pieces down the other end of the pitch.
Liverpool fans have taken to him and he has taken to the Merseyside club following his €40m transfer from RB Leipzig in 2021, which was a big decision for him.
Moving from Sochaux to Germany to grow and get minutes at a good club back in 2017, the 23-year-old was looking to make the next step in his career, which is why, when the Reds came knocking, a process of weighing pros and cons ensured.
Speaking to Goal France, Konaté was asked about what he and his brothers, who often help advise him, did when the offer from Liverpool arrived.
He replied: “When we found out there was Liverpool, we got together and talked together. Ok, there is Liverpool, there is Leipzig, what do we do now? In our discussion, we look forward to the next four or five years and everyone gives their idea and their point of view.
“Everyone says different things and no one is going to tell you you’re wrong. It’s like a puzzle, once I have gathered all the points of view of each and well I see things more clearly. And the decision is easier to make but in the end, it’s me who makes the decision.”
While there is a process of discussion with his family, the Liverpool star did make it clear that the final decision is always his and no on else’s.
He added: “Yes, it’s always me who decides. I find myself isolating myself. Sometimes I need a period of reflection. But what I realized is that as long as the people around you love you and are going to support you, there is no bad decision. We make a decision, we go for it and we do everything to make it go well. Nobody says, I told you so and then nobody can say it since for the moment the choices are coherent.”
However, he did add that while his family help him, he also has his agency CAA Stellar that help him with the negotiating side of things, because: “At some level, people who have credibility and experience help. It is sure that they will negotiate better than a person who has none and who comes out of nowhere.”
