Overview
- Konaté described to France Inter on Wednesday how the July car crash that killed Diogo Jota and his brother and the later death of his father left him devastated and without interest in normal life.
- He says those losses precipitated a season-long struggle with depression, and he rejected the notion that earning a lot of money prevents mental illness.
- Despite grieving, Konaté returned early from compassionate leave in late January to help an injury-hit Liverpool and scored in his comeback against Newcastle, though he says he never felt fully recovered.
- Liverpool confirmed Konaté will leave at the end of the month and multiple outlets report he is widely expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, a move that remains reported rather than formally announced.
- Konaté used his interviews to urge teammates and the public to talk about mental health, linking his account to calls for better support for players and signposting helplines such as the Samaritans.