Ibrahima Konate names Liverpool villain over Virgil van Dijk as his “number one”

12 October 2023 , 00:01

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Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has opened up about his partnership with Virgil van Dijk, but named Sergio Ramos as his 'number one' role model.

Konate joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig for £36million in 2021 and has made 61 appearances for Jurgen Klopp's side, helping them win the FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield and also reach the 2022 Champions League final.

The 24-year-old is currently away on international duty with France and looks set to come up against Van Dijk when they take on the Netherlands in a Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Konate was asked about his Liverpool teammate and said that he is 'learning a lot from him' and hopes to 'have a better career'.

Asked if he views Van Dijk as a role model, Konate replied: "There are very few defenders who have managed to have as good a career as him. I learn a lot alongside him.

"My goal, and he knows it, is to have a better career than him. My number one has long been Sergio Ramos." Ramos has become something of a pantomime villain among Liverpool fans, dating back to the 2018 Champions League final.

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During the game, which Real Madrid won 3-1, Ramos was involved in a clash with Liverpool's star man Mohamed Salah that resulted in the forward dislocating his shoulder and being forced off early, with Adam Lallana coming off the bench to replace him in the first half.

Replays showed that Ramos had trapped Salah's arm as the pair tumbled to the ground, leading some to suggest it was a deliberate act on the Spaniard's part. Salah later described the incident as the "worst moment" of his career, with the injury also forcing him to miss Egypt's World Cup opener against Uruguay.

Sergio Ramos clashes with Mohamed Salah in the 2018 Champions League final (VI Images via Getty Images)

"I remember when I went off, it was the worst moment in my career," he said. "It was the worst thing to happen for a player. I knew the result from the hospital. We couldn't lose that way.

"I was really down at that time. We had a good season and came to the Champions League final and then I went off." When asked if he had spoken to Ramos since that final, he replied: "Oh no. I didn't speak to him and for me the subject is closed. I'm not talking about him now. I'm just talking about the injury."

Matthew Cooper