Giorgio Chiellini has spoken of his admiration for Napoli counterpart Kalidou Koulibaly, speaking in quotes reported by Il Mattino amid speculation linking Liverpool and Newcastle United with a £90 million talent.
You can probably count on one hand right now the players capable of strolling into Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI without breaking sweat. And the fearsome Senegalese international is undoubtedly a member of that most exclusive of clubs.
Le10 Sport claims that there is growing optimism that a deal can be agreed for Koulibaly to swap Serie A for the Premier League leaders.
And the prospect of Virgil van Dijk joining forces with perhaps his closest rival for the tag of ‘best centre-half in world football’ should have every striker on English shores quivering in their boots.
Up on Tyneside, meanwhile, Newcastle have not given up hope of making the £90 million-rated Koulibaly their first marquee signing of the Mohammed Bin Salman era. Le10 Sport reports that the Magpies will offer a man brought to Napoli by one Rafa Benitez a staggering £200,000-a-week contract.
Koulibaly is not short of admirers, it seems. And even one of the game’s most decorated and experienced defenders is a big fan of a 6ft 1ins giant he has grown to respect as a player and a person.
“With him, I have always had a wonderful relationship. Such a strong player, such a good person and in the 92nd minute of a crucial game, he makes a mistake like that!” said Chiellini , recalling Koulibaly’s most uncharacteristic of own goals during Juventus’s 4-3 triumph over Napoli in August, with his new autobiography being serialised by Il Mattino.
“Seeing the look on his face melted me. I felt I had to say a few words of comfort, nothing more: ‘You are the best, everyone makes mistakes, keep on working the way you do and everything will pass’.
“I respect Koulibaly a lot and we got to talk to each other, to understand what kind of person he is.”
Given that Chiellini has shared a pitch with some of the greatest footballers of the 21st century, Koulibaly should be proud as punch to learn that he has an admirer in Turin.
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