Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has confirmed the death of his father, Hamady. The 25-year-old missed the Reds' Champions League victory over Marseille on Wednesday night, with the club citing a family matter.
Konate shared the news on Instagram, posting details of his father's funeral, which will take place on Friday, along with the words: “From Him we come, and to Him we return.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot had earlier revealed that Konate was dealing with a “very sad” personal issue. “First of all, for the family matter, why he is not here, it is very sad for him,” Slot said before the match. “Second of all, we miss him because I mainly played him [and Virgil van Dijk].”
In Konate's absence, Joe Gomez partnered Van Dijk in central defence, helping Liverpool keep a clean sheet in a 3-0 win. Van Dijk sent a message to his teammate after the match, saying: “My thoughts are with him. I'm very happy to play with Joe. We are good friends, that helps as well. He played outstanding.”
The victory lifted Liverpool into fourth place in the Champions League table, two points clear of ninth-placed Barcelona. Konate's contract expires at the end of the season, with Real Madrid reportedly interested in the Frenchman.
