Napoli will eventually sell Kalidou Koulibaly, admits Aurelio De Laurentiis
Napoli Chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that the club will one day have to sell Kalidou Koulibaly even if he wants to stay. The 28-year-old is arguably one of the best defenders in the world right now and while Manchester United were heavily linked in the summer no move materialized.
While Manchester United did sign Harry Maguire for a world record transfer fee in the summer window reports have still linked them with a move for another center-back. Reports add that Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and even Eric Bailly might all be sold to accommodate a few new additions. Both Ruben Dias and Kalidou Koulibaly have been heavily linked over the last few weeks with the former also being scouted by the Red Devils on two different occasions.Â
Yet the Mirror has reported that the Napoli center-back is the club’s top option and they will look to make a move for the 28-year-old either in January or in the 2020 summer window. However, Partonopei chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis has admitted that he will have to sell Koulibaly one day. In an interview, De Laurentiis had a lot to say about the 28-year-old center-back and revealed that no move would have ever taken place this summer.
“I am fond of Koulibaly and I have not sold him even for €105m (£90m). But there will come a time when Koulibaly will have to be sold. Whoever says we didn't improve our defence is wrong,” he told Sky Italia.
While the Senegalese defender has been one of Napoli’s best players over the last few years, Fabian Ruiz has a claim to being one of their best players this season. The midfielder has been magnificent at times for Napoli and has consistently found himself in the starting lineup under Carlo Ancelotti. But, reports have indicated that both Real Madrid and Barcelona are considering making moves for the 23-year-old and De Laurentiis admitted that they might consider selling the Spaniard.
“The court of Real and Barcelona for Fabian Ruiz? If I convince myself to pay someone who is unknown 30 million I wasn't born yesterday. Clearly the player is worth. We have Fabian Ruiz but who knows how many others we will find, the door is always open we must never become attached to a player,” concluded the Napoli chairman.