Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed he rejected a £58m bid from Chelsea for Kalidou Koulibaly in the summer.
Chelsea were heavily linked with the Napoli ace during the summer as manager Antonio Conte desperately looked to revamp the Chelsea defence.
Koulibaly, 25, recently signed a new five-year deal but not before Napoli rejected a bid that would have made him the world’s most expensive centre-back.
“They offered to me £30, 35, 40, 45, 60 [million],” De Laurentiis told Sky Sports.
“Mr Conte I said, ‘[The] marina is behind me, follow me’. I offered him that. Last moment, two days before the closing of the market, I hear £58 [million] – something like that.”
Yes [Chelsea did bid £58m]. He will never say it is true because I know Antonio. Ciao Antonio.”
In the last two Serie A campaigns only Francesco Acerbi (224) has won possession in the defensive third more times than Koulibaly (192).
For more stats on Kalidou Koulibaly, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
