Real Madrid have been trying to sign French centre-back Ibrahima Konaté for several weeks, but now Barcelona’s sporting director Deco is making the negotiations even more complicated.

Ibrahima Konaté has become one of the most sought-after players in the European transfer market. The 26-year-old Frenchman, who currently plays for Liverpool, is only under contract until 2026. Some believe his future lies elsewhere than Anfield.

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Real Madrid have been following him for a long time, but now an unexpected and dangerous competitor has emerged: FC Barcelona.

Barcelona enters the match

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan are seriously considering signing the French defender, which significantly increases the pressure on Real Madrid. At Camp Nou, they believe that Konaté would fit perfectly into Hansi Flick’s new project, and they are willing to go hard into the bidding war.

Liverpool, aware of the growing interest, have already offered him a new contract to keep him – but have yet to receive a positive response. English media even claim that Konaté may have already decided to seek new challenges, and that his first choice is to play for Real Madrid. Nevertheless, Barcelona and Bayern Munich’s interest could change the situation.

Real Madrid’s dilemma

Real Madrid is considering two options:

  1. Wait until his contract expires in 2026 and sign him for free
  2. Try to buy him this summer for a maximum of 25 million euros

This is a far cry from Liverpool’s demand for €50 million, which makes negotiations difficult.

A new battle between the giants

One thing is clear: The battle for Konaté has become fiercer. Real Madrid looked to be in the lead for a long time, but Barcelona’s arrival could change the rules of the game completely. Now a new power struggle awaits between two of Europe’s biggest clubs.

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