Ibrahima Konate has revealed how the tragic death of Diogo Jota and the loss of his father left him battling depression during the season with Liverpool.
Konate will leave the Reds at the end of this month after five years at the club having failed to agree a new contract, and is instead expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
It proved a difficult final campaign for the 27-year-old – currently with France preparing for the World Cup – which started with the death of Jota last summer.
Jota and his brother Andre Silva were killed in a car crash in Spain in July as the Portuguese forward was travelling back to Merseyside to begin pre-season training.
And with Andy Robertson, who is also leaving on a free transfer, and Curtis Jones having recently spoken about Jota’s death, Konate has provided a further insight on the devastating impact it had on the club.
“Even today it’s hard to believe,” he said, speaking to France Inter radio station. “His locker was still there in the dressing room, and every day when I was going to training he was coming with us.
Read the full story from Ian Doyle here.
Ibrahima Konate and Diogo Jota during a Liverpool training session