Ibrahima Konate chronicles Diogo Jota’s battle with depression after his father’s death.

During this difficult time, Konate bore the burden of knowing that his father was seriously ill.

“I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know if I should go home and stop playing, because the team wants me too.”

“I didn’t know who to talk to about it, so I kept everything to myself. And this is my advice to everyone: when you’re worried or something happens, you need to talk to the people around you.

“It can help you and do you good, I didn’t talk about it and kept it to myself.

“The doctors told us he didn’t have long to live after that, but we didn’t know it would be so fast.”

Konate returned early from the compassionate leave to help Liverpool Avoid the injury crisis at the end of January but the centre-back admits things have never been right.

He made 51 appearances in the 2025-26 campaign, 49 as a starter, but was unable to consistently match the form he had shown on Merseyside over the previous four seasons. Liverpool They finished fifth in the Premier League.

Konate, who played 27 times in France He is part of Didier Deschamps’ 26-man squad for the World Cup.With Les Bleus among the favourites.

“There was never a time when I felt like I was on the mend,” he added.

“All of these tragic events happened so quickly and as soon as I felt like I was getting my head out of the water, something else happened.

“I got the support of all these fans LiverpoolMy teammates and especially my family, but I also had to learn how to get back on my feet because the team needs me more than ever and I know my dad wants me back.

If you are affected by the issues raised in this story, information and support can be found at BBC Action Line.