Madrid Reawakens Talks with Premier League Defender: Konaté on the Radar
6 February 2026
Earlier reports claimed Real Madrid pulled back from the deal.
Madrid's renewed interest in Konaté
The French center-back Ibrahim Konaté has again surfaced as a Madrid target, with new signals of renewed dialogue between the clubs despite Madrid's earlier apparent withdrawal, as Madrid had previously signaled patience with players' adaptation.
Options remain open as Madrid ponders Rüdiger parallel
Spanish columnist Ramon Alvarez reported that Madrid's rethink is not final, drawing a parallel to their previous handling of Antonio Rüdiger, who reneged in January only to be signed in April, and Madrid's approach continues to keep options open.
Journalist Matteo Morito added that Konaté, the Liverpool defender, has again become a viable option for Madrid, with the Spanish club having recently checked in to ask about his current situation and the viability of a deal.
Madrid's broader plan, as various outlets noted, is to restructure the squad in the upcoming summer window after a noticeable dip over the last two seasons.
Punchline: If this deal lands, Madrid's defense will finally be solid enough to keep opponents off the popcorn at the stadium snack bar.
Punchline: And if not, the transfer saga will continue—think of it as a long-running drama with subtitles and a cliffhanger every week.
