Real Madrid Reportedly Pull Out of the Konaté Chase — Have Directly Informed Liverpool They’re No Longer Pursuing Him

Real Madrid fans

• If Diego Aguado develops well, he could end up filling that Nacho-style role.
• Real Madrid reportedly told Liverpool directly that they’re no longer pursuing Ibrahima Konaté. Meanwhile, Vinícius is seen as completely untouchable, even though his extension still isn’t signed yet.
• Romano says Madrid informed Liverpool they won’t be pushing for Konaté in 2026. He was on the shortlist for a long time, but that option is now dead.
• So yeah, the Konaté deal is off. Makes you wonder who Madrid move on to next.
• Konaté clearly wanted the move, but with how poor his recent form has been, it looks like Madrid switched focus to Upamecano.
• That PSV air-kick leading to the goal? Feels like that might’ve been what killed the deal.
• Upamecano vs Konaté honestly isn’t a massive gap.
• In the national team, it feels like the hierarchy is Saliba and Upamecano above Konaté.
• Saliba would be the dream Premier League option, but he’s extended until 2027 on huge wages, so that’s basically impossible.
• There were reports a month or two ago that Upamecano’s agents were actively offering him to Madrid.
• If Madrid need a centre-back, Murillo at Nottingham Forest would be an interesting option.
• What Madrid really need is the next Nacho-type player.

Liverpool Fans

• Madrid really said “nah, we’re good” on Konaté…
• Honestly, with the number of mistakes he’s made this season, backing out makes sense.
• So it’s official — the Madrid move for Konaté is dead.
• Konaté: “I was playing badly on purpose to engineer a move.”
• Mate, you’re about to be a free agent anyway. You didn’t need to throw games.
• The Athletic says Madrid pulled out after watching his performances this season. I mean… yeah.
• If Konaté suddenly starts playing well now, that would actually be hilarious.
• He looks like he’s playing not to get injured, almost like job-hunting football.
• Konaté’s statement was genuinely wholesome:“We have to face this situation head-on. Criticism is part of football. We overcome storms together. The fans matter most — good times and bad times, they push us through. We know we must improve. We’ll never give up. We fight for you always.”
• He actually seems like a good guy. Hope he shows it on the pitch in these next two games.
• Losing Slot — the manager who finally delivered that long-awaited title — because of this whole mess would be tragic.
• If Madrid aren’t taking him, maybe he just goes all-out now.
• He ignored two extension offers, then suddenly posts a super-sweet apology once the Madrid rumor dies. Feels a bit off.
• If he ends up demanding Van Dijk-level wages after this, that’s brutal.
• Just extend him and sell him to Saudi for £40m next year.
• If he keeps slacking and doesn’t extend, let him walk to PSG.
• PSG always felt more likely than Madrid anyway.
• If both Madrid and PSG are saying “even for free, we’re good,” and Liverpool still hand him a massive contract, that’s insane.
• Would be funny if Guehi ends up at Madrid instead of Konaté.
• Being told directly “we’re not interested in your player” is rough — for both Konaté and Liverpool.

What Remains

What remains is not lingering drama, but a clearly drawn line.

The possibility of a Madrid move is now completely off the table.
There is no longer room for “maybe later” or “something still happening behind the scenes.” That certainty is why attention naturally shifts to what comes next.

Among the comments, there is also space for Konaté’s own words.
His statement about criticism being part of football, about weathering storms together, about fighting for the fans and needing to improve, was read by some as sincere. As a result, focus has sharpened on the immediate future — specifically, what he shows on the pitch in the next two matches.

At the same time, scrutiny falls just as heavily on Liverpool.
Whether Konaté accepts an extension, pushes for elite wages, or ultimately walks away remains unresolved. For some, the idea of offering a massive contract when both Madrid and PSG have stepped back feels difficult to justify.

In the end, this episode clarified one thing above all else:
what did not happen is now settled. What remains is how that absence is addressed — through performances, and through the decisions that follow.

Source:
yahoo!sports
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/madrid-rule-signing-konat-according-080800940.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com