Speaking ahead of France’s match against the Netherlands, Ibrahima Konaté (24) revealed that he set himself the objective of being better than centre-back partner Virgil Van Dijk (32).
Konaté has partnered Van Dijk at the heart of Liverpool’s defence since his €40m arrival from Red Bull Leipzig back in the summer of 2021. When the Frenchman arrived, the latter was already a guaranteed starter for Jürgen Klopp’s side, and since Joran Henderson’s departure to Saudi Arabia this summer, he has inherited the armband.
Konaté has grown into the partnership, and he is now more featuring more regularly for Les Bleus as well. Prior to a muscular injury, which ruled him out of the last international break, he had started the last four matches at the heart of France’s defence, whilst he also started three of Les Bleus’ World Cup matches in Qatar.
He is likely to start against club teammate Van Dijk when France face the Netherlands on Friday, and Konaté has set himself the objective of “becoming better” than his centre-back partner at Liverpool. “Very few defenders have managed to do what Van Dijk has done. He is a great defender, from whom I am learning a lot. Now, my objective, and he knows it, is to become better than him. Sergio Ramos, who I followed a lot was my No.1 model,” said the Frenchman in a press conference, transcribed by RMC Sport.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
