Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has admitted that he has thought about the prospect of playing for hometown club Paris Saint-Germain later in his career.
Konate spent five years in the youth academy of Paris FC before moving to Sochaux, where he made his professional debut in 2017 as a 16-year-old. Later that year, he joined RB Leipzig and cemented his status as one of Europe’s best young centre-backs.
In the summer of 2021, Liverpool triggered his £36m release clause to bring him to Anfield. Since then, he has developed into one of the Premier League’s finest defenders, though he has routinely struggled to keep fit and has battled various injuries.
At international level, Konate has won 13 caps for France since his debut in 2022 and become a favourite of manager Didier Deschamps. He notably came off the bench in last year’s World Cup final defeat to Argentina on penalties.
As is the case with most French players, Konate has been linked with a return to his homeland to play for PSG. While on international duty last month, he was asked whether players from Parc des Princes had been selling him on the idea of a move.
“I’m not going to answer about what they do! But no, it’s true that I’m a Parisian, but I’m at Liverpool,” he told RMC at the time.
Following Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at Luton Town on Sunday, Konate was asked by Canal Plus whether he had imagined himself playing for PSG one day.
“If I said no, I’d be lying, but if you’re asking, is it one of my objectives? Not at all,” he said.
“PSG has made sure to recruit players who understand each other well and who play with each other for the France national team. Even for the people and the Parisian fans, it makes them happy. It’s what they’ve been waiting for for years, having Parisian players or at least French players in the team.”
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