Ibrahima Konate has described his move to Real Madrid as the fulfilment of a childhood dream, after recalling the pain of losing the 2022 Champions League final to the Spanish club while playing for Liverpool.
The France defender completed his move to Real Madrid on a free transfer and has signed a contract that runs until 2030. In his first message to supporters after the agreement was made official, Konate addressed the club’s fans directly.
“Hello Madridistas, I am very happy to be here. I hope to see you very soon at the Bernabeu. Hala Madrid!” he said.
Konate then revealed that his connection with Real Madrid began long before his professional career. The first football shirt he owned was one belonging to the club, and he said he had dreamed of representing them ever since.
“The first shirt I ever owned was a Real Madrid shirt, and from that moment I always dreamed of playing for this team. Today, I have achieved my dream. I promise I will give everything I have for this shirt,” he added.
The emotional significance of the transfer was clear during Konate’s presentation at Real Madrid City. Standing in front of the club’s 15 European Cup and Champions League trophies, the defender took time to look at the collection before pausing in particular at the trophy won in 2022.
That moment brought back memories of a painful night in Paris. Konate was part of the Liverpool side beaten 1-0 by Real Madrid in the final, with Vinicius Junior scoring the only goal of the match.
“I feel a little emotional, especially because of the 2022 trophy in Paris, as I was playing for Liverpool in that final,” Konate said.
The defeat left Konate on the opposite side of one of the biggest occasions in Real Madrid’s history. His move now gives him the opportunity to pursue European success with the club that denied him the trophy, rather than watching its celebrations from the losing side.
His comments also underline the personal importance of the transfer. For Konate, joining Real Madrid is not simply a move between two major clubs or the next step in his career. It represents the completion of an ambition that began when he first put on a Real Madrid shirt as a child.
The defender’s first public message was also shared in Spanish, repeating his greeting to supporters: “¡Hola Madridistas! Estoy muy contento de estar aqui. Espero veros pronto en el Bernabeu. ¡Hala Madrid!”
Konate has now begun his Real Madrid career with a clear promise to the club’s supporters: that he will give everything for the famous white shirt. Supporters can discuss the story and other football news in the Kooora forums.
