The third official presentation for Real Madrid’s summer signings was held today. After head coach Jose Mourinho on Tuesday and Bernardo Silva yesterday, it was Ibrahima Konate’s turn to be unveiled.

Real Madrid Sports City staged the official welcome ceremony for the French defender as the club’s newest player, in keeping with the recent trend of more understated events rather than the grand presentations Madrid used to hold in earlier years.

Club president Florentino Perez welcomed him in the boardroom, where the defender signed a contract that will keep him at the club for the next four seasons, until 30 June 2030.

Once the paperwork was completed, Konate was presented with a replica of the Santiago Bernabeu, a watch, and a shirt with his name and the number 16 on it.

Honorary Real Madrid president Jose Martinez Pirri was also present at the ceremony.

After the official unveiling, Konate spoke briefly to Real Madrid TV, where he described what becoming a Real Madrid player meant to him.

“It means a lot to me because the first shirt I ever had was a Real Madrid shirt, and it was a gift from my elder brother,” he recalled.

“From that moment, I always dreamed of playing for this fantastic team and today I am very happy to be living that dream.

“I know the club has very high expectations of anyone who wears this shirt and I am here to fight for this team with everything I have, both on and off the pitch.”

Asked what it was like to see Real Madrid’s 15 European Cups lined up together, he added:

“I feel great. I only regret one, the one in Paris in 2022, because I was playing for Liverpool at the time and Madrid won that Champions League again.”

Continuing, he said: “I want to be part of Real Madrid’s history and I want to win trophies, win the Champions League with this team and be part of its history forever.”

He then thanked the president and everyone involved, in perfect Spanish, for turning his dream into a “reality.”

In conclusion, Konate said: “I promise to give everything for this shirt.”

Konate joined Real Madrid on a free transfer after deciding not to renew his contract with Liverpool.

With his arrival, Mourinho now has greater depth in a position that was badly hit by injuries last season.

At present, the France international could start alongside Dean Huijsen in Saturday’s La Liga opener against RCD Espanyol.