French international Ibrahima Konaté shared the sad news of his father Hamady Konaté's passing this Friday. The announcement, made through his social media accounts, reveals the significant reason that led the player to miss Liverpool's recent trip to France for the Champions League group stage.

The defender had already hinted at the delicate family situation in a recent interview with the newspaper Ouest-France, where he confessed that his father had been dealing with health issues for years. 'Sometimes, when I go to see him, his foot or his back hurts,' he commented at the time, shedding light on a struggle that has come to an end today.

In light of this situation, 'Reds' manager Arne Slot granted the player permission to travel directly to France instead of joining his teammates in Marseille. At the Stade Vélodrome, Joe Gomez took his place in the heart of the defense alongside Virgil van Dijk in a match that Liverpool handled with authority (0-3), practically sealing their direct qualification to the Round of 16.

The final farewell to Hamady Konaté will take place tomorrow with a religious service in the town of Aulnay-sous-Bois. Meanwhile, the Liverpool community has rallied around the center-back with messages of support. His availability for this Saturday’s league clash against Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth remains uncertain, as the club continues to prioritize the player's grieving process

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