Ibrahima Konate has broken his silence on one of the most harrowing periods of his career, revealing that the deaths of Diogo Jota and his father Hamady plunged him into depression during his final season at Liverpool.

Speaking to France Inter radio, the 27-year-old centre-back was unflinching in his honesty, pushing back against the notion that footballers are somehow immune to mental illness because of their wages.

"There are low points, there's depression. You can suffer from depression in football too; there's no need to be ashamed to say so," Konate said. "Depression is personal; it's deep inside you. When you're depressed, it starts in the heart, goes up to the brain and takes over your whole body. For me, that's what's hard, and we need to talk about it."

The shattering loss of a neighbour and a friend

Jota and his brother André Silva were killed in a car crash last July. For Konate, the grief was immediate and overwhelming — the Portugal forward had been one of his neighbours on Merseyside.

"It devastated me. I didn't have any interest in anything else at that point," he admitted. "You go back to football because you have no choice. We're employees at a club that pays us every month, so we have duties. We had no choice but to go back on the field and play for him and his family — as well as ourselves. There's no way of getting over it, but you learn to live with it."

A father's illness compounding an unbearable load

While still processing Jota's death, Konate was simultaneously carrying the knowledge that his father was gravely ill. Hamady Konate passed away in January after a long illness, and the defender has admitted he felt paralysed by indecision at the time.

"I didn't know what to do. I didn't know whether I should go home and stop playing, because the team needed me too," he said. "I didn't know who to talk to about it, so I kept it all to myself."

He has since turned that isolation into a warning for others: "When you're feeling down or something's going on, you need to talk to those around you. I didn't talk about it and kept it to myself."

Konate returned early from compassionate leave at the end of January to help Liverpool navigate an injury crisis, but by his own admission he was never fully himself. He made 51 appearances across the 2025-26 campaign, starting 49 of them, yet could not consistently reproduce the form that had made him one of the Premier League's most commanding defenders across his previous four years at Anfield. Liverpool finished fifth.

Closing in on Real Madrid move

Konate has confirmed he will leave Anfield this summer and is reportedly closing in on a move to Real Madrid. Even as he prepares for that next chapter, he reflects on a season defined by loss rather than football.

"There was never a moment when I felt like I was on the mend," he said. "All of these tragic events happened so quickly and as soon as I felt like I was getting my head above water, something else happened."

He paid tribute to Liverpool's fanbase, his team-mates and his family for their support, but acknowledged he ultimately had to find his own way through.

"I know that my father would have wanted me to get back," he added.

The France international is part of Didier Deschamps' 26-man World Cup squad, with Les Bleus named among the tournament favourites. His willingness to speak openly about depression, in a sport that still too rarely makes space for such conversations, may prove as significant as anything he does on the pitch this summer.

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, support is available through the Samaritans on 116 123 or via your GP.

Frequently asked

Why is Ibrahima Konate leaving Liverpool?
Konate has confirmed he will leave Anfield this summer when his contract situation allows. He is reported to be closing in on a move to Real Madrid.
How did Diogo Jota die?
Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva were killed in a car crash last July. Jota had been one of Konate's neighbours on Merseyside.
Is Ibrahima Konate in France's World Cup squad?
Yes. Konate is part of Didier Deschamps' 26-man France squad for the World Cup, with Les Bleus considered among the favourites for the tournament.