Marcel Desailly backs Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate for national team success
Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate stands praised by French football legend Marcel Desailly who believes the defender possesses all the qualities to form a formidable partnership alongside Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano for the French national team.
The former RB Leipzig duo caught the eye as they played for the French national team in their convincing 4-0 thrashing of the Netherlands in the first qualifying match of Euro 2024 at the Stade de France on Friday night. Konate and Upamecano’s commanding display came just weeks after Raphael Varane announced his retirement from international football at 29.
Desailly, a part of the French team that won the 1998 World Cup on home soil, is one of the country’s greatest defenders. In his column for the French publication L’Equipe, he praised the duo’s level-headedness and calmness.
Here is what Desailly had to say on Konate in L’Equipe via ECHO:
“They’re so level-headed and calm but they must improve on falling back defensively and have humility”,
“Their time is now, I’m convinced. I’m so proud when I watch them that my eyes light up!”
Konate is destined for greatness
Besides, Desailly believes that Konate and Upamecano are the face of Didier Deschamps’ defence for forthcoming major international tournaments. The legendary defender also expressed his pride when watching the duo play and believes that their time is now.
Liverpool signed Konate from RB Leipzig in the summer transfer window of 2021, and he has certainly made a solid start to his career at Anfield. The French defender has been praised for his physicality, aerial prowess and ability to read the game. He was excellent in the Reds’ UCL final against Real Madrid as well in 2022.
If Desailly’s prediction is correct, Liverpool fans can look forward to seeing Konate form a formidable partnership with Upamecano for the French national team. This would not only be a boost for Liverpool’s profile but also for Konate’s development as a player.
Konate has already shown that he has the potential to become a top-class defender, and playing alongside Upamecano, who is also obviously, a world-class centre-back for the French national team could only enhance his development.
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Liverpool fans will be hoping that Konate continues to impress for both club and country and that he can form a formidable partnership with Virgil van Dijk in the heart of Liverpool’s defence.
