Ibrahima Konate is out of contract at the end of the season but remains a key player for Liverpool and has been handed his EAFC 26 rating.
Ibrahima Konate during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield.
Ibrahima Konate has spoken about next season amid speculation over his Liverpool future.
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Ibrahima Konate has cheekily hinted at a future boost in his player rating as the Liverpool team got their hands on their EAFC 26 player cards at the AXA Training Centre, just before the game's much-anticipated launch. The French defender's contract is winding down and with eyes from Real Madrid on him, it's still up in the air whether he'll pen a new deal with Liverpool or seek pastures new.
Yet, even with such speculation about his tenure at Anfield, he continues to be a top pick alongside Virgil van Dijk in Liverpool's backline, earning plaudits for his role in recent wins against Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, and Everton.
Konate's prowess is reflected in this year's EAFC edition with an 86 overall rating, a step up from his initial 83 rating in last September's EAFC 25.
Upon receiving his customised version of the game complete with his player card and stats, he quipped in a video shared by the club: "86 is okay. Next season, 99.", reports the Liverpool Echo. It hints that his full concentration is on having a good season with Liverpool instead of thinking about his future.
Konate wasn't the only one to enjoy a ratings bump in EAFC 26; Ryan Gravenberch saw the most significant leap within the Liverpool squad. His rating has soared from 85 from 78 from last season.
Gravenberch was clearly chuffed with his improved rating, playfully ribbing Hugo Ekitike, while Cody Gakpo expressed delight for his fellow Dutchman. However, Curtis Jones firmly believed that Gravenberch deserved an even higher score.
"Yeah, nice card. 85," Gravenberch commented. "Last year was... 78?".
"You deserve 80!" Ekitike teased. "80, 80!".
"85, bro," Gravenberch responded, with Ekitike expressing his disappointment at his 83 rating: "It's stupid," he said.
"Eyyyyy, good card, eh?" Gakpo said, clearly impressed by Gravenberch's score. Jones then queried his own rating.
"You should be 87 to be fair, at least!" the England star insisted.
Alexander Isak was pleased with his upgrade from 85 to 88, similar to Konate, he too is aiming for further improvement. "It's going up, so gotta keep going," the Swedish player commented when asked about his card.
The Liverpool players at the AXA Training Centre enjoyed a lively debate over their pace as they each received their cards. Jones was astounded by Florian Wirtz's overall 89 rating and 90 dribbling score, leading to a playful argument between the German and Dominik Szoboszlai over their physicality and speed.
"Oh my days! 89? !" Jones exclaimed in disbelief. " Let me see, pace 80."
"Bro, we have the same physical," Szoboszlai remarked to Wirtz, who jokingly replied: "We have the same body build!".
"Bro, bro, his dribbling's 90," Jones reiterated, before Wirtz questioned his own pace. "I'm faster than 80, eh?" he queried, with Szoboszlai agreeing - but only to dispute his own.
"Okay, but I'm not 79!" the Hungarian player insisted, with Wirtz conceding: "I know, you're also faster... But it's okay. Nice picture, handsome."
Virgil van Dijk couldn't resist a cheeky dig at Alexis Mac Allister regarding the Argentine's speed after the midfielder received his updated player card. Now boasting an 87 rating, the 26 year old was content with his improved stats but acknowledged his pace rating with a grin.
"It's okay, no? Much better than last season," Mac Allister commented. "Pace is still low, like always. I deserve it so, it's good."
Van Dijk then quipped, "What's the pace? Too fast?".
Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai discover their EAFC 26 ratings
Florian Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai discover their EAFC 26 ratings (Image: LFC/YouTube)
Alexis Mac Allister discovers his EAFC 26 rating
Alexis Mac Allister discovers his EAFC 26 rating
Jeremie Frimpong and Rio Ngumoha were both chuffed with their pace ratings, although Frimpong wasn't thrilled about his overall rating taking a hit compared to the previous year. "Oh god, 83? Somehow I've gone down!" lamented Frimpong. "Okay, 94 pace is cool.
"62 shooting? Okay, maybe that's right. 74 pass. Okay, it's okay. It's not a bad card but I think this should be like, at least 84, 85. Right?".
Trey Nyoni, meanwhile, had a laugh at Ngumoha's expense, playfully claiming his teammate's pace was exaggerated. "You got 90 pace?" he teased. "Bro, you're not that fast, bro! Chill out!".
"90 pace!" Ngumoha defended himself, only for Nyoni to retort with a chuckling: "No, you're not!".
In other news, third-choice keeper Freddie Woodman may not have the squad's top rating. While Mohamed Salah shares the title of the game's best player with a stellar 91 rating, Woodman, who joined on a free from Preston North End, has a more modest 71 rating.
But in a touching exchange whilst discussing his card with both Jones and Conor Bradley, he confessed that two elements on it held far greater significance than any numerical score - the team and league emblems!
"Let me have a look!" Jones declared. "Tell you what, it's a good picture of you!".
"It's a good picture, it is!" Woodman concurred. "Do you know what's the most important thing? Them two badges there, do you know what I mean? Premier League and Liverpool!".
However, that didn't prevent the shot-stopper from questioning his own speed statistics! "Oi, speed, 47?" he highlighted. "They ain't seen me sprint!".
Clearly, regardless of your level, footballers will forever remain fiercely competitive and defensive when it comes to debating their pace!
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