Ibrahima Konate joins Real Madrid on a four-year deal
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Real Madrid announced the signing of defender Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool on Thursday, with the player agreeing to a four-year contract that will keep him at the club until June 30, 2030. The 27-year-old center-back, who joined Liverpool in 2021 from RB Leipzig, made 183 appearances for the English club, winning the Premier League in 2025 and the FA Cup in 2022. Konate, currently with the French national team at the World Cup, joins a Real Madrid squad that has also seen the arrival of coach Jose Mourinho and the signings of Spain left-back Marc Cucurella and Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva this summer. The Spanish giants are reportedly looking to further strengthen their team, having been linked with Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries, as they aim to rebuild after two seasons without a major trophy. Real Madrid has also renewed the contract of center-back Antonio Rudiger until 2027, following the departures of Dani Carvajal and David Alaba.
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Must ReadThe United Arab Emirates has announced a social media ban for children under 15, effective Thursday, joining countries like Australia, Britain, and Canada in adopting similar measures. Social media platforms must monitor and disable accounts created by individuals under 15 within a 12-month transition period, or risk being blocked. The official WAM news agency stated that children below this age are prohibited from creating, using, or operating personal social media accounts. The resolution also bars children from accessing full platform features like social interaction, publishing, commenting, and joining public groups. Children aged 15-16 are permitted to use social media with enhanced protective measures, including content restrictions and time limits. Parents and caregivers are responsible for preventing children from circumventing age checks, and parental consent does not provide an exemption. The ban is driven by concerns over mental health, cyber-bullying, lack of physical activity, online predators, and addictive behavior. The UAE's media and telecommunications bodies have the authority to take necessary measures against non-compliant platforms, including warnings, partial or full blocking, or administrative penalties.
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