Former Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian has backed Ibrahima Konate to thrive at Real Madrid following his summer move
Ibrahima Konate of Real Madrid warms up prior to the Pre-Season Friendly match
Ibrahima Konate left Liverpool for Real Madrid this summer(Image: Photo by Hesham Elsherif/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian has backed his former teammate Ibrahima Konate to succeed at Real Madrid following his move earlier in the summer.
The defender's contract expired at the end of June and, despite optimism over an extension, an agreement was never reached and he left as a free agent. Konate had reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain, as well as La Liga giant Real Madrid, but he ultimately opted to join the latter.
Of course, Liverpool isn't exactly unfamiliar with losing one of its key players for nothing as they enter the prime years of their career. Only 12 months ago, boyhood Red and academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold swapped Anfield for the Bernabeu, although on that occasion Liverpool was able to extract a nominal fee from its Spanish counterpart due to an early release for the Club World Cup.
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Alexander-Arnold's first season at Real Madrid did not go entirely smoothly. He is already working under his third manager, as Xabi Alonso was sacked midway through the campaign, only to be replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa, who was not kept on by the club. Now, Jose Mourinho is in charge for his second spell.
The defender was also hit by a handful of injuries, which meant he struggled to nail down a starting spot. Now, he will have to compete with Denzel Dumfries for minutes after Real Madrid opted to reinforce its right back department once again this summer.
Despite Alexander-Arnold's struggles, Adrian is confident Konate will not face similar problems and ultimately has what it takes to succeed. The goalkeeper, who is a former teammate of both players and announced his retirement from playing earlier this summer, has now taken on a new role within Real Betis' management structure.
In an interview with Spanish outlet AS, the 39-year-old discussed Konate's move, saying: "Ibou is a monster - in the best way. Fast, dominant in the air, rock-solid defensively.
Ibrahima Konate and Adrian arriving at Anfield before a Premier League match
Ibrahima Konate and Adrian were teammates at Liverpool between 2021 and 2024(Image: Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"He gives goalkeepers peace of mind. He’s ultra-competitive and a born winner. Coming from a club that fights for everything, he has the personality and experience to shine at Real Madrid.
"I’m not big on comparisons, but I’d say he’s a mix of [Antonio] Rudiger’s aggression and strength with the ball-playing ability of a young defender like [Dean] Huijsen. He hits diagonals, stays calm under pressure, and plays out from the back really well. I know him - he’ll be fantastic.
"He’s well-trained for the pressure (laughs). Liverpool demands everything, every day. He’s used to that level. He has leadership, and once he settles in, he’ll prove he’s a massive signing."
Real Madrid will kick off its La Liga campaign on Saturday evening away at Espanyol. Then, Konate could feature at the Bernabeu for the first time as a Real Madrid player in a competitive fixture against Real Sociedad on Wednesday night.
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Liverpool, meanwhile, takes on Newcastle United in its first Premier League fixture of the season on Sunday. Then, its first home clash against Nottingham Forest comes a week later.