Ciro Ferrara: Kalidou Koulibaly not the world’s best... yet

by Graeme Jackson

Wednesday Dec 12, 2018. 09:00

Former Juve man says Senegal star is amongst top three defenders on the planet.

Former Juventus defender Ciro Ferrara has talked up the quality of Napoli and Senegal centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly – though he stopped short of calling the 27-year-old the best in the world.

Koulibaly was in action for Napoli against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, and in the build-up to the game Ferrara – who won multiple honours with the Neapolitans and Juventus in his playing career – said the Teranga Lions star could be considered one of the top three defenders on the planet.

"If Koulibaly is the best defender in the world? Certainly among the first three, then it is a question of preferences,” said the former Italy international.

"While before he played more as a unit, in the last year I have the feeling that he is not afraid to play man against man like he used to. Today it is important to have strong defenders who agree to play man against man.

"Koulibaly is impressive in physical strength, in recoveries but also in footwork. He made great progress, by law he is among the first three in the world."

The Senegalese bruiser has been linked with a move to Manchester United, though the Red Devils will need to cough up a world record fee for a defender – north of £90m, according to reports – to prise him away from Napoli.