Ibrahima Konate shares a Liverpool contract update and hits out at “completely fake” social media speculation
Ibrahima Konate has branded social media speculation around his contract negotiations with Liverpool as “completely fake” and revealed his agent held talks with the club last week.
Konate is heading into the final 12 months of his contract and his long-term future remains unclear, despite being tabled a new deal at the midway point of the Reds’ title-winning campaign.
Asked about the issue after lifting the Premier League title on Sunday, the France international said talk around November time that he was edging closer to extending his stay after seeing a number of demands met by Anfield officials was inaccurate
But the former RB Leipzig centre-back, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday, hinted that discussions between sporting director Richard Hughes and his representatives earlier this month were productive.
“You know, I just want to say one thing: Everything you saw on social media is completely fake,” Konate said. “I didn’t even ask for something from the club. They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it.
“The rest (speculation) that I want to wait until the end…I want this, all of it is completely fake. And even the big journalists said in November I am very close to signing the deal. I was like: ‘Ah, they have more information than me!?’
Because it was not true at that moment and that is why I was a little bit mad because it was not true at this moment. I knew at one moment people would think I didn’t want to sign the contract but I was never close to signing it. We will see what will happen.
“First thing, I am very happy because we have won the Premier League trophy and we lifted it today. We have to enjoy it, have a rest and hopefully next season will be better than this.
“I didn’t expect the [contract] question this way! (laughs) But you are smart, you’re smart. To be fair, to win a trophy, even when I won my first trophy with Liverpool, the FA Cup, was just amazing.
And today, to win the Premier League, I know I have a lot of objectives with this club: to become a leader, to win everything. I am very happy here to be fair, you know.
“But I know where you want to go with this question and this is another conversation with the club and my agent, we will see what will happen in the next few weeks or I don’t know when but we will see, let me say that.
“Progressing? Not really but my agent met the club last week but I don’t know what will happen. I cannot say what my agent said to me but yeah, we will see what will happen.
“Yes, for sure this is an exciting moment for this club because Virgil and Mo are two legends of this club, two leaders of this club and very important players for the squad, the club, the city.
“For sure, everyone was very happy when they signed, the fans, the club. And we need these kinds of players to sign to bring us trophies, you know?
“But the two people who were most happy I think were Virg and Mo. I think they both wanted to stay here. OK, they talked with their agents but they really wanted to stay and that I know. But for sure, we will see now
Konate also gave his best wishes to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who played his last game as a Reds player in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.
The out-of-contract defender was a second-half substitute for Conor Bradley and was given a positive welcome upon his introduction before being cheered at full time as he marked his final appearance with a Premier League winners’ medal
The England international is expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer and while Konate understands some fans’ frustration at the development, he had an emotional parting message for his colleague.
“Wow, I think this [farewell] started one week ago already and even yesterday before training,” Konate added. “We gave him a gift from the team and he was crying at this time, so I told him to keep for it tomorrow. ‘Not right now, because you will need it for tomorrow’.
“But today, I didn’t want to be very close with him, I let him enjoy because I knew if I was close to him, I would cry as well. He is my brother, more than a friend who I play football with. I spend a lot of time with him off the pitch and he is a very good guy and I like what the fans have done today, no-one booing him, just clapping him for what he has done for this club.
“We can understand some of them are not happy he is leaving but this is life and a part of football. But no, it was amazing. I can feel this feeling today, because after 20 years he will go somewhere else and it is just painful, for sure, but I just wish him the best.
“Of course [he said it was one of the best days of his life]. He didn’t expect to play as well, he got 45 minutes and it was just amazing, the fans with him, to give him a proper goodbye.
“We are all very happy for him and we wish him the best. Not ‘the best’ because we want to win the Champions League as well. The gift was just a shirt for him with a signature and just a book from us with all our messages in. It was a small thing, not something crazy.”