News Focus
- Ibrahima Konate reveals he suffered depression during his final season at Liverpool
- The France defender lost close friend Diogo Jota in a car crash last July
- His father Hamady died in January after a long illness
- The 27-year-old is set to join Real Madrid this summer
- Konate urges footballers to speak openly about mental health struggles
Ibrahima Konate has shared details about his mental health struggles during his final months at Liverpool. The French centre-back says depression affected him deeply after he lost both his teammate and his father in quick succession.
Last July, Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a road accident. Konate and Jota were neighbours in Liverpool and shared a close friendship. Then in January, Konate’s father Hamady passed away following a long sickness.
The 27-year-old told France Inter radio that these tragic events had a devastating impact on his wellbeing. “There are low points, there’s depression. You can suffer from depression in football too; there’s no need to be ashamed to say so,” he explained.
Konate addressed the misconception that wealthy players cannot face mental illness. He stated that depression starts in the heart and takes over the whole body. The defender admitted he felt shattered and lost interest in everything after Jota’s death.
He continued playing because of his professional duties. “We’re employees at a club that pays us every month, so we have duties,” he said. The team returned to the pitch to play for Jota’s family and themselves.
Konate also carried the burden of his father’s illness alone. He did not know whether to stop playing to return home. “I didn’t know who to talk to about it, so I kept it all to myself,” he recalled. He now advises everyone to speak to those around them when feeling low.
The defender returned early from compassionate leave in January to help Liverpool during an injury crisis. However, he never felt fully recovered during the campaign. Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League, and Konate made 51 appearances but could not reach his previous high standards.
Konate is now preparing for the World Cup with France. He is also close to completing a transfer to Real Madrid after four years at Anfield. He thanked Liverpool supporters and his teammates for their exceptional support during his darkest moments.