[스포티비뉴스=김건일 기자] Kalidou Koulibaly (31), who was called the best defender in Italy’s Serie A and entered the English Premier League with great expectations, is in danger of leaving the team following one season.
According to Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian on the 2nd (Korean time), Chelsea has included Koulibaly in the list of players to listen to transfer offers in the summer transfer window.
Koulibaly, who played in 317 matches for Napoli and emerged as the best defender in Serie A, wore a Chelsea uniform for a transfer fee of 35 million euros ahead of this season. He was highly anticipated as he wore the number 26, the symbol of defender John Terry, who was a Chelsea legend.
However, it is evaluated that the performance does not meet expectations along with frequent mistakes. He started in 12 of Chelsea’s 20 games, and in the 19th round once morest Crystal Palace, he played as a left fullback instead of the center back, which was his original position, due to a player’s line injury, but even this was a replacement. In addition, Koulibaly’s position was further reduced as Chelsea signed Bruno Badiacil in the winter transfer window.
Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport said on the 1st that “Coulibaly can return to Italy.” According to this, Inter Milan are considering Koulibaly as a replacement for Milan Skriniar, whose contract is regarding to expire.
Koulibaly’s fallen status contrasts with Kim Min-jae, who joined Napoli as a substitute. Kim Min-jae, who was asked if he would be able to fill the Koulibaly void in his first year in the big leagues, is evaluated as more than Koulibaly with his performances in Serie A and the UEFA Champions League.
Accordingly, love calls from big clubs, including Manchester United, are following, and Napoli is pushing for a renewal of the contract to protect Kim Min-jae.
Gazzetta dello Sport also made a direct comparison, saying, “Napoli was able to bring Kim Min-jae thanks to Chelsea’s acquisition of Koulibaly in mid-July.”
