Liverpool fans have hailed Ibrahima Konate as a future captain after footage of him motivating France team-mates went viral.
The 25-year-old captained France in the absence of Kylian Mbappe for their 3-1 victory over Italy on Sunday.
Konate has stepped up a gear this season under new Liverpool boss Arne Slot and that has been reflected with the reward of being handed the captain’s armband by France manager Didier Deschamps.
The video of his pre-match speech to France team-mates will be encouraging to Liverpool fans – who fear that three of their senior players could leave the football club next summer.
Current captain Virgil van Dijk, vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold and star player Mohamed Salah are all in the final year of their contracts.
Un immense honneur ©️ une belle victoire pour clôturer 2024! 🇫🇷 @equipedefrance pic.twitter.com/J7QBivUS5J
— Ibrahima Konate (@IbrahimaKonate_) November 17, 2024
One fan commented on social media: ‘If Trent leaves, Konate will be the next captain. Alisson, Robbo (Andy Robertson), Salah and Virgil (if they sign) have only two years max at the club.’
Another supporter wrote on X: ‘May just be next Liverpool’s captain in the making.’
Ibrahima Konate Gives Motivating Speech To France Team-Mates
In the footage originally posted by the French football team’s official account, Ibrahima Konate and Mike Maignan are seen rousing the troops.
“Come on guys, set-pieces, in defence and attack, Lucas (Digne) knows what he has to do,” Konate starts.
“Guys, there’s a first-place finish up for grabs too. First place means that in the next round, boys, the second match will be at home. That’s what’s important too, guys.”
"𝘞𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦" 😤
Words of inspiration from Konaté and Maignan in the dressing room before Italy-France 💪#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/hqMSl6LL8Y
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) November 19, 2024
France lost 3-1 to Italy in the Nations League back in September and Konate was keen that this was not forgotten.
He went on to add: “But today, it’s about revenge absolutely. Revenge, revenge, revenge.”
The Liverpool star then made his way around the team, clapping hands with each of them before spurring on fellow defender Jules Kounde.
“Jules, we know what we have to do boss. Keep talking a lot with everyone, okay?”
Ibrahima Konate Joins List Of Liverpool Locker Room Leaders
Liverpool already possessed a strong list of locker room leaders before Ibrahima Konate appeared to step into the fray.
Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo all captain their national sides.
Konate meanwhile joins Alisson, Luis Diaz and even youngster Conor Bradley to fill in and take the armband for their respective teams.
Arne Slot’s side have an impressive leadership group consisting of Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Salah, Robertson and Alisson.
France defender Konate would be a strong contender to step up into the group in the future, regardless of whether Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Salah leave at the end of the season.
Liverpool Defender A ‘Contender’ to Replace Kylian Mbappe
France’s official captain, Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe, has been absent from Didier Deschamps’ last two squads.
Deschamps has rotated the armband around several players, including Ibrahima Konate, in that time.
The Liverpool star has cemented himself as first-choice after starting five of the last six games for Les Bleus.
According to L’Equipe, that has made him a strong contender to take over as full-time captain.
The French outlet claim that Deschamps will call Mbappe to discuss his captaincy.
