Story by Álvaro de Miguel,Andy Hall
Ibrahima Konaté is now officially in full training with Real Madrid — and he’s walking into just about the perfect scenario. With Éder Militao and Asencio sidelined by injuries, Madrid will start the season with only three fully fit center backs. Add in lingering physical doubts around Huijsen, who missed the first official preseason friendly, and the French defender suddenly has a clear path to opening day minutes. After a tough World Cup run with France, where he never cracked Didier Deschamps’ starting lineup, he arrives in Madrid hungry to prove himself.
A market steal for Madrid
Real Madrid needed defensive reinforcements, and Konaté became the ideal market opportunity. The club has leaned heavily on a strategy that’s become a hallmark on La Castellana: identify players nearing the end of their contracts and convince them not to renew. After five seasons with Liverpool, Konaté arrives aiming to become the anchor of Madrid’s back line.
Last season, Madrid’s defense was ravaged by injuries. Konaté, meanwhile, played 36 of Liverpool’s 38 Premier League matches — a durability profile that made him irresistible to the club.
Konate, entrenado con el Real Madrid.
A golden chance to start
Konaté’s first training session on Monday came with the door wide open. With Militao and Asencio out, three players are fighting for two spots: Rüdiger, Huijsen, and Konaté.
Rüdiger has the club’s trust and looks physically stronger after knee issues last year, giving him a strong chance to start the season. That leaves Huijsen and Konaté battling for the other spot.
Konaté’s preseason debut came against Ferencváros after he missed the Fiorentina match due to muscle tightness. He played the second half, conceded a goal after a slightly awkward defensive position, but looked composed on the ball. Huijsen’s physical uncertainty gives Konaté a slight edge — as long as he gets up to full speed quickly.
Konate, entrenado con el Real Madrid.
Health will define Madrid’s season
Last year, Madrid suffered 54 injuries, many of them in defense.
- Mendy played only 9 games.
- Rüdiger missed 9 La Liga matches early on due to knee recovery.
- Militao started the season but appeared in only 4 matches after Week 16.
- Huijsen (40 games) and Asencio (34 games) were the most durable, but even they dealt with minor issues.
Konaté has battled physical problems earlier in his career but has recently become a model of consistency:
- 51 matches last season
- 41 the year before
- 37 the season before that
José Mourinho now has a defender with proven durability — and Madrid got him for free after his contract expired. At 27, Konaté arrives ready to become the leader of Madrid’s defense and help push the club back to the top.
A door left ajar — and Konaté is ready
Konaté’s first training session in Madrid revealed a clear opportunity. With Militao and Asencio out, an opportunity has opened up for him. For the Frenchman, it’s a prime chance to claim a starting role and bounce back from a World Cup where he barely featured.
