Real Madrid defender Ibrahima Konaté has explained why he partially covered a shirt supporting Ceuta before the club’s LaLiga match against Elche on September 15, saying he did not understand its message at the time. The French international addressed the controversy at a press conference on Tuesday, ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with RB Leipzig, explaining that he only learned about the situation after the match. “Honestly, I didn’t really understand what was written on the shirt. After the match, I read about what was happening in Spain, and I can understand both sides,” Konaté said. The defender also referenced his family background when explaining his perspective. “You have to understand that I come from France, but my parents are from Africa,” he said, adding that he could understand concerns on both sides of the debate. Konaté acknowledged that he had not known what the shirt meant when he put it on and said he had been unsure how to react. He ultimately decided to remain neutral, explaining that he wanted to focus on football rather than become involved in a controversy he had not fully understood. “I came here to play football, and that’s it. It wasn’t that big of a deal,” he added. The controversy began when Konaté, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior partially covered the message “Todos somos caballas” (“We are all Ceutans”) on their shirts before the match against Elche. The initiative was intended to show solidarity with Ceuta amid tensions following a large influx of migrants from Morocco over the summer. The gesture sparked debate over the message’s political implications and the players’ decision not to display it in full.   submitted by   /u/Maleficent-Choice254 [link]   [comments]