Ibrahima Konate has quickly established himself as one of Jose Mourinho’s preferred defensive options at Real Madrid since joining the Spanish club from Liverpool during the summer transfer window.

According to a report by Madrid Universal on Monday, November 9, 2026, the French centre-back has made an impressive start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu after arriving on a free transfer following an inconsistent final season at Anfield.

Konate faced criticism from Liverpool supporters and football pundits towards the end of his time in England. However, he has responded positively to his new surroundings and is gradually becoming an important figure in Mourinho’s squad.

The 27-year-old has secured a regular place in the starting lineup alongside Dean Huijsen, with his growing involvement reflecting the confidence the Portuguese manager has shown in him.

He has accumulated 1,170 minutes across all competitions this season, making him Real Madrid’s fourth-most-used outfield player, behind Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde.

A key factor behind his rise has been his developing understanding with Huijsen. The pair offer contrasting qualities that have given Madrid a promising centre-back partnership.

While Konate provides physical strength, aggression and recovery speed when dealing with opposition attackers, Huijsen contributes composure, technical quality and confidence when playing out from the back.

Their complementary attributes have helped Mourinho find a balance between defensive stability and building attacks from defence. Konate’s strength in physical battles and ability to handle one-on-one situations have also made him particularly useful in the manager’s system.

His arrival initially raised questions because of his inconsistent displays during his final campaign at Liverpool. His limited involvement with France at the 2026 FIFA World Cup also meant he arrived in Spain without much competitive momentum.

Nevertheless, the defender has gradually put those concerns behind him and is increasingly regarded as a reliable option within the Madrid squad.

His selection record further underlines his growing importance. Konate started Real Madrid’s first two La Liga matches against Espanyol and Real Sociedad before being rested for the meeting with Malaga.

Since then, he has appeared in every domestic league fixture, completing the full 90 minutes in each of his 13 starts across competitions.

Although Mourinho has occasionally rotated him in the Champions League, leaving him out for matches against RB Leipzig and AEK Athens, the defender’s overall playing time suggests he remains firmly established in the manager’s plans.

However, Konate’s impressive performances have increased competition for places in Madrid’s defence, particularly for Antonio Rudiger.

The German international brings considerable experience and has previously been an important part of the club’s defensive setup. However, Mourinho’s recent choices suggest he currently prefers the partnership between Konate and Huijsen.

Eder Militao is also competing for a place in the starting lineup, adding further pressure on Rudiger to fight his way back into the team.

Konate’s immediate challenge will be to maintain his current level of performance and establish himself as a consistent presence throughout the campaign.

His progress at the Santiago Bernabeu represents a notable turnaround after the criticism he faced during the closing stages of his Liverpool career.