Following the news that Kalidou Koulibaly is more than likely heading to Chelsea instead of renewing at Napoli, we are now getting an update of the mood in the south of Italy.
This comes courtesy of Carlo Alvino, described as a ‘journalist close to the events of Napoli’, where he spoke to Kiss Kiss Napoli, relayed by Area Napoli.
It centres around the club’s owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, who didn’t want to sell the player to Chelsea, but his contract situation, expiring in 2023, left him little choice when the Senegal international made it clear he wouldn’t renew.
The Blues then came swooping in, with Koulibaly himself suggesting a deal was well on its way, which hasn’t gone down well with Napoli’s president.
Alvino said: “Aurelio De Laurentiis is very miserable. He has not digested the sale of Kalidou Koulibaly.”
He then added: “What I can say is that the president is terribly miserable with Kalidou’s decision. He is one who is strongly attached to his players and takes it personally when they decide to leave Naples. The evolution of the negotiation was not expected this quickly.
“Relations with the international agent Fali Ramadani have deteriorated strongly in recent weeks. Koulibaly has decided to go to Chelsea, but Aurelio has not digested his decision, and he has not taken it well at all.”
At the end of the day, the prospect of going to Stamford Bridge as a starter in a club fighting for titles during a World Cup year was just too good to turn down, it seems.
While the deal has yet to be announced, it appears it’s all heading in the right direction for Chelsea, especially if De Laurentiis is this unhappy.
