Ibrahima Konate impresses in parts but defensive lapses give Real Madrid selection dilemma

Ibrahima Konate made his first appearance for Real Madrid in Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Espanyol, but despite an encouraging individual display, his performance has reportedly raised concerns at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The France defender joined Real Madrid this summer on a free transfer after his contract with Liverpool came to an end. He was handed a starting place by manager Jose Mourinho after only two weeks of training, with Antonio Rudiger left out of the first XI despite having completed more sessions with the squad.

Spanish newspaper AS described Konate’s debut as promising but inconsistent, suggesting the 1.94m defender still has significant room for improvement. The report said he appeared overly confident when attempting to build attacks from the back and did not always make the right decisions in possession.

Konate began the match positively, matching the rest of the Real Madrid side by showing composure during Espanyol’s limited attacking spells. However, his influence faded as the game developed. Espanyol’s goal came from the right-hand side, where Konate was out of position, allowing Cala to move through on goal without being marked.

He also appeared hesitant when stepping forward, while his confidence in possession occasionally worked against him. AS said that tendency contributed to him losing the ball and noted that his passing from defence lacked the accuracy shown by Dean Huijsen.

Huijsen now appears to have established himself as one of Real Madrid’s first-choice central defenders. That leaves the remaining defensive position likely to be contested by Konate and Rudiger, meaning Konate faces strong competition despite being selected from the start so soon after arriving at the club.

There were, nevertheless, several positive elements to his display. Konate dominated the physical contests and won four aerial duels, more than any other Real Madrid player. His strength made him a commanding presence at the back, while he also showed leadership as the team pushed for victory.

He had more touches than any other Real Madrid player, with 89, and completed 73 of his 75 passes for a 97% success rate. Only one team-mate recovered possession more often than Konate, who won the ball back five times.

His defensive contribution also extended beyond aerial challenges. The France international made three successful tackles and helped Real Madrid control much of the game from deep. However, the match exposed weaknesses that will need to be addressed, with lapses in concentration identified as the most significant concern.

AS concluded that Konate’s overall performance was not entirely convincing, even though his individual statistics and physical presence offered encouragement. The report suggested that he and Huijsen could form a dependable partnership over the course of the season, provided Konate develops greater consistency and improves the precision of his distribution.

Real Madrid will return to action on Wednesday when they play their rearranged La Liga fixture against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu. The match will offer Konate another opportunity to strengthen his claim for a regular starting place.

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