Ibrahima Konaté on Virgil Van Dijk: “In the dressing room, I sit next to him.”

Speaking in an interview with TF1’s Téléfoot programme, French international and Liverpool central defender Ibrahima Konaté was asked about his team-mate at the Premier League club & captain, Virgil Van Dijk.

“From TV, maybe you don’t really see it. But when you play next to him and see what he does, it’s amazing. And of course I learn from him, I will continue to learn from him. In the dressing room too, I sit next to him. When I started playing with him, training with him, I saw how easy it was for him to play and defend on certain attackers and it is true that it is quite exceptional.”

Van Dijk was asked to comment on Konaté in return following France’s dominant 4-0 victory over the Netherlands when the two countries met in a EURO 2024 qualification match during the most recent March international break, in a game where both men started for their respective clubs. Van Dijk had the following to say:

“I think that he is the present and the future. Honestly, he is a very very good player.”

Konaté, 23, is expected to take Raphaël Varane’s spot in the France starting XI for the foreseeable future after the Manchester United defender decided to take his international retirement following the 2022 World Cup final loss in Qatar.

Alongside Konaté, Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano is expected to be the Liverpool man’s long-term partner for France. The duo made tens of appearances together for the France U21s and RB Leipzig combined. On Upa, Konaté had the following to say:

“With Dayot, we were always together. We often go out together. We played together. So, we have this chemistry which has built up over a very long period of time.”

Didier Deschamps also gave his stamp of approval to this new centre-back duo:

“It’s solid huh? They are real defenders, good in duels, they are quick. Also they are dangerous in attacking set-pieces.”

James Thorpe | GFFN