Senegalese central defender Kalidou Koulibaly is one of the world’s most sought-after players, with big clubs like PSG, Real Madrid, and Manchester City having expressed interest in his services.
Napoli has resisted the idea of letting Koulibaly go; the player is a fundamental part of coach Gennaro Gattuso’s scheme. Only this season, he has participated in 32 games in all competitions and has contributed to Napoli winning the Coppa Italia.
But it seems that the club has finally relented. It has been the club president Aurelio De Laurentiis himself who has declared to Sky Sports that the door is open to let Koulibaly go if the right offer comes. “Kalidou is a great person, I would be terribly sad to lose him. But there is a time for everything, even to move apart,” Laurentiis said.
Koulibaly does not want to leave the club, during an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the player said: “Stay in Napoli for life? I would not say no, but I do not want to deceive anyone. We know how things work in football. Maybe you say you stay for life, and then they sell you. So I tell everyone that I will give 200% while wearing this shirt. I have a special relationship with the people of Naples, a genuinely pure feeling.”
According to The Sun, Manchester City is the one who leads the race to take over the services of Koulibaly, who, according to Laurentiis, is worth around € 90 million. The Cityzens would be willing to offer two players and a cash amount for the transfer.
