Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleIbrahima Konate has opened up about a year of profound personal loss (AP)Ibrahima Konate has opened up about a year of profound personal loss which significantly impacted his mental health and performance. The Liverpool player endured deep struggles following the death of his teammate Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva in a crash, subsequently followed by the passing of his father, Hamady, after a long illness. Konate challenged the stigma surrounding mental health in professional sport, asserting that depression is a genuine issue for athletes regardless of their financial status. He admitted to keeping his struggles private, a decision he now regrets, and advised others to communicate their feelings when facing difficulties. Despite immense grief and feeling he never truly recovered, Konate returned to play for Liverpool, driven by professional duty and the belief his father would have wanted him to continue. In fullIbrahima Konate opens up on battle with depression after Diogo Jota and his father’s deathsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in