Liverpool youngster earns Zlatan Ibrahimovic seal of appoval

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic is clearly a big fan of one Liverpool youngster. Ibrahima Konate really caught his eye against AC Milan.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Liverpool youngster Ibrahima Konate will be a ‘great defender’ in the future. The Swede came up against Konate when the Reds travelled to Milan earlier in the month.

“I asked to exchange shirts with Liverpool defender Konate,” said Ibrahimovic, per the Liverpool Echo. “He won all the fights with me on the ground and in the air.

“I told him that he will be a great defender in the future and that he [should] remember my words well.”

Konate certainly put in a great game against Milan and Ibrahimovic. The Liverpool centre-back won three tackles, made five interceptions, and won the majority of his headers – 4 won, three lost.

While that latter figure wasn’t quite Nat Phillips good (he won 7 and lost just 1) it was a wonderful display up against one of Europe’s most experienced forwards. Ibrahimovic struggled against Konate all game, in truth.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic rates Ibrahima Konate

It was clear from the moment Liverpool signed Konate that there’s huge potential. He’s still only 22 but had plenty of experience at RB Leipzig.

And now we’re seeing that experience translate to performances with Liverpool. Konate has been consistently excellent in Red.

But it’s his attributes that really shine. Konate is tall, strong, quick and very comfortable on the ball. He’s got great understanding of his position for a 22-year-old, too, and that’s something that will only increase with age. In fact, it should only increase while learning alongside the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez.

So Ibrahimovic’s praise isn’t a surpruse, nor that he sees Konate as a future great. We’re excited about his development at Liverpool and it feels as though the Reds signed a star.