NAPOLI HAVE FIRED a warning to any clubs interested in signing Kalidou Koulibaly by insisting that he’s not for sale, although head coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed his €150 million release clause.
That isn’t due to kick in until 2021, with Koulibaly having signed a new deal with Napoli back in September 2018 that will tie him to the club until 2023.
The 27-year-old has been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea although it appears it will take a huge bid for the Naples club to even consider a sale.
Ancelotti told reporters: “The best centre-back in the world? Yes. And he has more room for improvement. He’s worth €150 million and he is non-transferable.
“Koulibaly’s contract will expire in 2023. In 2021 he will have a €150 million release clause, but Napoli do not need to sell, the president does not want to sell and the question does not arise.”
The Senegal international is preparing to face Arsenal in the Europa League on Thursday, with the Gunners 2-0 ahead in the tie courtesy of goals from Aaron Ramsey and an own goal from Koulibaly.
The first leg was, however, marred by allegations of racist abuse towards the centre-back that has seen Arsenal confirm they are investigating the video that appeared on social media.
That came after more reports of racist abuse in Italian football, with Juventus duo Moise Kean and Blaise Matuidi having suffered alleged abuse by Cagliari fans.
Serie A subsequently confirmed they were investigating the incident, where it’s alleged monkey chants were aimed at the players, while Kean was handed a €2k fine for diving during the same game.
And Ancelotti expressed his dismay at the situation, urging those supporters that are behind the accusations to stop.
He added: “I was speechless. It’s unacceptable. Intolerable. Chants against Koulibaly, Kean and Matuidi, insults to [Sinisa] Mihajlovic when he returned to Florence. Enough. Enough. Enough. Enough. Enough.
“It is no longer possible to conceive football in this way. This is not the football we love.”
Napoli are currently 17 points behind Juventus in the Serie A table although are on course to secure their place in the Champions League next season, with them being seven points ahead of third-placed Inter and a further five clear of AC Milan.
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quite like the old crown paints jersey
@sams theman: the adidas Carlsberg sponsored jersey should be modernized and made as are home kit that kit scared away teams it was raw
That keeper kit is fantastic
Meet the new jersey, same as the old jersey!
It’s not bad. I don’t like the way the sponsor logo is white and the crest and NB logo is yellow/gold. Looks strange. It clashes a bit. All white for me id prefer. Anywho. Looks to be last year with new balance. Massive money nike deal looks to be coming. Which is good. Having the same jersey as all nike sponsored teams….. not so good.
@Seaniecp: Bring back Adidas and the three stripes!
@Seaniecp: the sponsor logo is far too high
@Jack Ryan: new balance jerseys have been top notch
@Colm Connolly: ya I guess it is really
Paisley-era shirts were all v-neck. This isn’t. #Fail
@Brendan Moriarty: in fairness they do say it’s inspired by the jersey not copied
@Brendan Moriarty: He would of been 100 this year, read into it .
Can’t wait to see what monstrosities NB have planned for this terms away shirts
No level of mawkish sentimentality is high enough for this crowd…
@Joe O’riordan: https://the42.ie/4591563
@Joe O’riordan: delicious salty tears
@Joe O’riordan: it’s called tradition.
@Joe O’riordan: Spurs new stadium, beautiful, Hazard to Madrid beautiful, Chelsea cash nipple run dry, bea…..
It looks OK to me, very like the one from last year (which I loved), but with the pinstripes now white. That goalie jersey should have been the away kit IMO.