Ibrahima Konate gets eye-watering Real Madrid salary as Liverpool decision makes sense
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesIbrahima KonatéIbrahima Konate's reported Real Madrid wages would have seen the French defender become Liverpool’s highest-paid player if the Reds had given him a new contractIbrahima Konate would have been Liverpool's highest player if the club met his wage demands(Image: (Photo by Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport via Getty Images))Ibrahima Konate's wages at Real Madrid would have made him Liverpool's highest-paid player if the Reds had offered him the same deal.Madrid announced that it had signed Konate on a four-year deal. The Reds were unable to reach an agreement over a contract extension for the French defender, despite positive talks earlier in the year that had suggested a renewal was close.Konate has joined Los Blancos following the La Liga club’s appointment of Jose Mourinho for his second spell in charge at the Bernabeu.
Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella are also set to arrive at the club this summer as part of a significant squad rebuild.The transfer also sets up a reunion with Trent Alexander-Arnold, one year after the former Liverpool full-back made his move to the Bernabeu — a switch that was met with frustration from sections of the Anfield support.Spanish outlet El Desmarque reports that Konate’s contract details have been revealed, including a reported salary of $27.4 million (£20.4 million), which is equivalent to around $500,000 per week before tax.Real Madrid is also reported to have agreed to pay a $22 million (£17.3 million) signing-on fee, underlining the substantial costs often involved in so-called free transfers.Konate will join Real Madrid after leaving Liverpool this summer(Image: (Photo by Anthony Bibard/FEP/Icon Sport via Getty Images))While the figures remain unconfirmed, there was said to have been a significant gap between Konate's wage demands and Liverpool’s valuation of his new contract terms.A salary of $500,000 per week would have made the 27-year-old the club’s highest earner following Mohamed Salah’s departure.Real Madrid’s interest in Konate had long been an open secret, with club president Florentino Perez previously suggesting the defender would sign if he secured victory in this month’s elections.Although several details still needed to be finalized, Perez’s re-election ultimately paved the way for the move to be completed, with the center-back deal subsequently wrapped up.Konate, who is part of Didier Deschamps' side for the 2026 World Cup, joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in 2021 for a $46 million fee on a five-year deal.He went on to make 183 appearances in all competitions for the Anfield club, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cups during his time on Merseyside.The defender recently said he was “deeply saddened that I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye” to Liverpool supporters after the Reds’ final Premier League fixture of the season against Brentford on 24 May.He added: "At that moment, I didn't know it would be my final time wearing this shirt in front of you."Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCReal Madrid CFTransfersIbrahima KonatéJose Mourinho