Koulibaly ‘pleased’ at interest, but keen to stay with Napoli

Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly (L) and Sampdoria's Albin Ekdal in action

Monday Feb 18, 2019. 09:00

Napoli’s Senegalese defender Kalidouy Koulibaly has admitted that he is “pleased” by the transfer interest shown in him, but adds that he has no desire to leave the Stadio San Paolo.

The 27-year-old Teranga Lions centre-back is regarded as one of the best players in his position in world football.

He has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United, with speculation rife that the Red Devils are prepared to break the world record transfer fee for a defender (currently £75m, which saw Virgil van Dijk leave Southampton for Liverpool) to sign Koulibaly.

It has also been revealed that interim United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer assigned his top scout Jim Lawlor to watch the defender in a 0-0 Serie A draw at Fiorentina earlier in the month.

Koulibaly has admitted being flattered at report linking him to United and other major European sides.

"My future? I don’t know if I’m one of the strongest defenders. I always try to give my best,” Koulibaly told Rai Sport. "Since I’m here, I always try to grow with Napoli. I have a lot of motivation to go on and I want to keep doing this.

"I am pleased that many teams follow me, but I want to demonstrate on the field that I am at the level of the greatest and I want to show it in the future.”