Konaté delivers remarkable debut for Real Madrid with 97% pass accuracy and 89 touches

Ibrahima Konaté made a successful official debut in Real Madrid colours on Saturday evening, during a 2-1 victory over Espanyol that was not without collective imperfections. The French international, who arrived on a free transfer from Liverpool and is tied to the club until 2030, nonetheless delivered a personal performance that was difficult to criticise.

Starting alongside Dean Huijsen, Konaté compiled 9 defensive contributions: 2 tackles won, 1 interception, 5 clearances and 5 recoveries. He won 8 duels and was not dribbled past once. In ball usage, the record is equally eloquent: 72 successful passes out of 74 attempted, a success rate of 97%. He touched 89 balls in total, a figure higher than any other Real Madrid player in the match.

The contrast with the collective result is striking. Real conceded a goal to Espanyol and did not always appear comfortable, but Konaté immediately displayed the qualities — power in duels, aerial presence, technical cleanliness — that had convinced the club to recruit him.

It would be premature to draw definitive conclusions after 90 minutes. Real Madrid will quickly face far more demanding opponents, and Konaté will need to confirm over time. But for a first official outing at one of the world’s most scrutinised clubs, the French defender provided solid reasons for optimism.