1 hour ago
1
Ibrahima Konate insists he has no doubts that Hugo Ekitike will flourish at Liverpool, disclosing the extraordinary lengths his fellow Frenchman has been prepared to go to during his spell at Anfield in pursuit of international recognition.
Ekitike arrived at Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt in July without a single senior cap to his name, before his impressive performances earned him a call-up to the national squad for September's international fixtures. The striker has emerged as Liverpool's leading marksman this season, netting six times across all competitions under Arne Slot's stewardship, with his Merseyside form proving instrumental in securing his place in Didier Deschamps' Les Bleus setup.
Speaking to Canal+, Reds center-back Konate, who continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid, shared an amusing anecdote that offered a glimpse into Ekitike's unwavering determination to succeed at both club and international level, expressing confidence in his teammate's long-term prospects.
"Once, I pulled his ears a little, but it was funny," Konate said.
"We had to go to the gym after one of the training sessions, and the intensity we put into training, it's true that it's very hard. And he was tired.
"I go to him, and I tell him, 'Go ahead, we're going to the gym there.'
"And he told me, 'I'm knocked out here, I'm tired.'
"In fact, we don't have to go to the gym, but it's better to go, because we're like 'summoned.'
"I look at him and for two seconds, I don't talk to him.
"And I said to him, 'Do you want to go to the France team or not?'
"And then I leave (laughs). A minute later, he was in the dining room (ready to go the gym).
"The anecdote is a bit funny but afterwards, he quickly understood how it happened.
"In terms of work, he's someone who is very diligent and who will progress, I have no doubt about that."
Both Ekitike and Konate may feature when France hosts Ukraine in Thursday's World Cup qualifier.
English (US) ·