Real Madrid defender Ibrahima Konate broke his silence on Tuesday over his decision to conceal a message of solidarity with the Spanish city of Ceuta before a match last month, insisting he had not understood what was written on the shirt.
Speaking at a press conference in Madrid, the French international addressed the controversy surrounding the slogan ‘Todos somos caballas’, meaning ‘We are all Ceutans’, which was displayed on shirts worn by players ahead of Real Madrid’s clash with Elche.
“To be honest, I didn’t really understand what was on the shirt, so I can’t really take a position on that. But afterwards, I read more about what happened in Spain and the situation, and I can understand both sides. You also have to understand that I come from France, but my parents are from Africa,” he explained.
“They came from Africa to France, and I think many people are in the same situation as I am. There are good aspects to it, but there are also bad aspects. And I can completely understand people who don’t understand why certain people come to their country and then do bad things there,” Konate added.
Konate, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr had rolled up or folded their shirts, partially hiding the slogan, with the two forwards removing theirs before the customary pre-match greetings.
The gesture sparked criticism, including from a Real Madrid supporters’ group in Ceuta, which demanded an apology.
Mbappe later said he supported the people of Ceuta but “did not want to prioritise the suffering of one group over another”, pointing to the plight of migrants who had died or were living in difficult conditions.
Turning to football, Konate stressed the importance of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with RB Leipzig, saying a third consecutive victory would put Real Madrid in a strong position to finish among the top eight in the league phase.
Head coach Jose Mourinho also urged his players to stay focused on securing qualification for the next round.
“We have to keep going. Just because you win three doesn’t mean you’ll win a fourth. We have to play and win,” he said.
Mourinho also praised Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs, who will officiate the match, while taking a swipe at journalists over the gap between a coach’s knowledge of football and that of someone reporting on the game.
Asked about Vinicius Jr, Mourinho insisted that no player was automatically untouchable, arguing that performances, rather than reputation or status, determined a player’s importance to the team.
“I protect him. I don’t like this concept of an untouchable player. What makes a player untouchable is not his status, the captain’s armband, how many years he’s been at the club, or how much he was paid,” he said.
Real Madrid host RB Leipzig at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Source: Viory
