CORNERFLICK
Ibrahima Konate has said he wants to become the best defender in the world in his position after joining Real Madrid from Liverpool.
Perez, family and the move
In his first interview with the club’s official media, the France defender praised Florentino Perez and said the Real Madrid president has been central to the club’s rise. Konate described Perez as a key figure in football and said he had changed a great deal at the club.
He also recalled that Real’s first contact went to his brother, who reacted with obvious excitement on the phone. Konate said his family made the move possible and that everyone around him was happy to see him join Madrid.
Life at Madrid
Konate said he has been taken aback by the training ground, the people around the club and the support staff on trips, adding that the set-up has allowed him to focus only on football. He said he had expected a big-club environment after his years at Liverpool, but not this level of organisation.
The defender also said he has restarted Spanish lessons after beginning them following the World Cup, and hopes to speak comfortably within a few months. He added that he is eager to play at a renovated Santiago Bernabeu, having already appeared there before the stadium’s rebuild.