Juventus join Barcelona in race for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly

Barcelona have been a keen observer of Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly for several years now, amid the Old Lady’s growing interest in the defender.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Koulibaly’s agent Fali Ramadani shares an excellent relationship with the Juventus management, and the defender is also at the top of Massimiliano Allegri’s list. But the report also understands that Juventus don’t want to be too delighted with the defender, who turns 31 in June.

On the other hand, Ramadani is looking for new destinations for his client, with Barcelona being an option. The Catalan giants have been an admirer of the Senegalese for a long time.

Koulibaly’s contract at Napoli will end in June 2023. And as confirmed by the club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, he would not hold the player back if he were to leave the club this summer. However, the latest report understands that Napoli will demand a transfer fee of around €40million for the 30-year-old robust defender.

The player has played 26 games in Serie A this season, having amassed three goals and two assists. It is not his output with goals and assists but his defensive aptitude that remains the most inspiring feature of the centre-half. The Bianconeri are in the hunt for a defender, with Giorgio Chiellini leaving Turin for a reported summer move to MLS. 

Jyotirmoy Halder

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