A Premier League star was unrecognizable as he arrived for international duty, concealing his identity behind a strange new dress choice.
Squad arrivals are generally a moment for players to show off their luxury fashion as they leave club football to join up with their international counterparts, and one Liverpool player went all out with his pick.
Players summoned by France manager Didier Deschamps arrived at the squad’s rural Clairefontaine headquarters in the north of the country on Monday ahead of forthcoming Nations League games.
Team captain Kylian Mbappe was out from the game due to an injury, despite playing for his club the previous weekend.
Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool was among those present, along with the rest of the Les Blues team, and he caused a commotion when he emerged to reveal himself on Monday afternoon.
A Premier League star was unrecognisable when they reported for international service.
The Liverpool star arrived wearing an unusual yellow cowl that hid his face.
The centre-back, fresh off partnering Virgil van Dijk to a clean sheet win over Crystal that propelled the Reds to the top of the table, stepped out with a strange yellow net over his face.
Konate paired his style with a loose-fitting jacket and slacks, and only later did he reveal his identity by dramatically unzipping the hood that concealed his entire face.
The 25-year-old appeared to enjoy the spotlight moment, smiling for the cameras before stepping indoors, but followers who criticized his decision on social media were not impressed.
One critic on X criticized Konate, saying, ‘Such a clown!’, while another fumed, ‘what is he wearing.’
Ibrahima Konate (right) was the secret identity when he joined France after excelling for Liverpool against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Konate laughed and posed for the cameras as he unzipped his mask, revealing himself.
Konate will be hoping to play regular minutes on the international stage alongside Arsenal defender William Saliba in forthcoming matches against Israel and Belgium.
Meanwhile, following a confident performance against Crystal Palace on Sunday, Peter Crouch lauded Konate as one of the Premier League’s top defenders.
‘I mean, he’s as good as anyone else,’ Crouch stated. ‘I always look at judge centre halves and think, would I like to play against them?
‘Konate and van Dijk. I can’t think of many worse defenders to play against.
