Liverpool star reveals why he is 'too afraid' to spend lucrative £70,000-per-week Premier League salary

26-year-old Konate played youth football at Paris FC and Sochaux before making his senior debut towards the end of the 2016-17 season. His performance at Sochaux caught RB Leipzig's attention and the Bundesliga outfit quickly signed the defender that summer, in 2017. Four years later, Konate completed a dream move to the Premier League, as he signed for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

Over the past few years, the France international has established himself as a regular first-team starter and has earned Arne Slot's trust since the Dutchman arrived in 2024. But Konate believes he owes his success as a professional footballer to his elder brothers, as he claimed that he would not have reached such heights in his career if it weren't for his family. 

Per Capology, Konate presently earns £70,000 per week, which is quite low compared to the wages of other first-team members.

Konate claimed that he has always been very scared of spending lavishly on himself, even though he makes good money in the Premier League, saying, via the Daily Mail: "I became the player I am today thanks to each one of them [my brothers]. From my first steps at Paris Universite Club twenty years ago to Liverpool, they have always been a fundamental help. I didn't spend anything at all on hedonistic and personal pleasures. No new car, no clothes, no shoes. Nothing. I was too afraid they'd tell me I'd changed. 

"You have no idea how much footballers need [family]. Many people, more or less well-intentioned, roam around us. 95% of them come because I'm Konate, the football player, and not Ibrahima, the person. They want to take advantage of my fame, but they don't really care about me . As soon as someone wants to approach me, they filter them out."

Konate has entered the final year of his Anfield contract and has yet to agree to sign a new long-term deal and commit his future to the Reds. With only months left in his existing terms, Real Madrid are thought to be monitoring the centre-back with a view to signing him as a free agent in 2026. The Spanish giants have reportedly turned their attention to the France international after their primary defensive target, William Saliba, agreed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.

The Frenchman is free to negotiate with clubs outside England from January 1 as he will enter the final six months of his contract at that point. The Reds ideally would want to lose yet another player on a free transfer or, for a negligible fee as was the case with Trent Alexander-Arnold fiasco at the end of last season. Konate, on the other hand, is yet to give his green light for a move to any club and he could, in fact, decide to stay back at Anfield beyond his current deal.  

After a perfect start to their title defence campaign, where they won seven matches in a row, Arne Slot's side experienced a sudden dip in form which saw them lose three consecutive games against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea just before the international break. The team's defence has come under scrutiny after they have leaked nine goals in seven Premier League outings, while the attackers have also been criticised following the loss at Stamford Bridge.

Despite enjoying superstar status at Merseyside, Mohamed Salah's work ethic has been questioned, while Cody Gakpo has been told to do more on the left flank to uplift the team's overall balance and performance. The Reds are now gearing up to face rivals Manchester United at Anfield next Sunday as the champions aim to get back to winning ways in the Premier League.