Konaté case, ready for a verdict: Radio Marca announces where he'll play in 2025-26

One of the signings that has returned to the forefront of Real Madrid rumors, after his participation in the Club World Cup, is a top-level center-back. This is not surprising, given what happened in the semifinals against PSG:  Raúl Asencio and Antonio Rüdiger, each with a serious mistake, ended up heavily criticized in that tournament.

This is why Xabi Alonso is said to have submitted a request for the Merengue bosses to add another player to the heart of the white defense. The ideal target, as had already been suggested in previous weeks, is Ibrahima Konaté. In addition to his footballing qualities, shown over the last two seasons at Liverpool, there is a circumstance that helps keep hopes up for his signing.

The "5" of the red squad's sports discipline has a contract expiring in the summer of 2026 (2026)... and he hasn't renewed that deal yet, despite the supposed approaches made from the upper echelons of Anfield Road. That refusal to renew would be accompanied by a better perception, which increases over time, of the possibility of wearing the white jersey.

Everything seems set for Real Madrid to make Konaté's signing official next summer, when he would arrive as a free agent to the Merengue locker room. However, the urgency sparked by Xabi Alonso regarding a center-back has led to consideration, albeit briefly, of the possibility of acting during these weeks to try to secure his addition.

Decision taken

The sports management based in Merseyside hasn't hesitated: Konaté has a release price of €50 million. That deterrent measure, which Real Madrid considers a figure that's too high for the context in which the footballer finds himself, has had the desired effect for the English side. The executives led by Florentino Pérez would have abandoned their intentions.

According to the information published by Radio MARCA in recent hours, the signing of Ibrahima Konaté this summer is "absolutely improbable". Given the complications that have arisen in the attempt to bring forward the arrival of the French center-back, the Valdebebas offices would have decided to cancel any approach in this regard.

In this context, Real Madrid would once again apply patience to strengthen Santiago Bernabéu locker room. The signing of top-level footballers in the European elite as free agents has become a "specialty" of the Merengue bosses... and the Ibrahima Konaté file doesn't seem to be an exception to that rule.

Nor his successor in the line of signings caused by the white club. According to what we have been able to confirm at Defensa Central, the Merengue board will attempt the same move with another great French center-back in 2027: William Saliba, Arsenal player and Mbappé's friend.