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Barcelona could not compete financiallywith Chelsea for the signing of centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, according to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.Chelsea confirmed the signing of Koulibaly last weekend in a deal worth a reported 33 Andre Burakovsky Jersey .8million (40m), bringing an end to the defenders eight-year stay in Naples.LaLiga heavyweights Barca, whose financial problems have been well documented over the past year, also had Dale Hunter Men Jersey an interest in the Senegal international.However, De Laurentiis claims the Catalan club could not meet Napolis valuation for Koulibaly, who was into the final year of his contract at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.Barcelona had come in, but they didnt have the money because they are in debt, he told Radio Ki s Ki s. Then Chelsea came forward and we couldnt say no. Koulibaly helped Napoli to three Matt Niskanen Kids Jersey second-place finishes in Serie A and to Coppa Italia gloryin 2020, as well as winning the Supercoppa Italiana shortly after he arrived in Italy.Since joining the club in 2014, no defender in the Italian top flight has won more tackles than Koulibaly (344), or made more succe sful pa ses (14,528).De Laurentiis revealed Napoli offered the 31-year-old an improved contract in an attempt to fend off Chelsea Philipp Grubauer Kids Jersey .I let Koulibaly go because he asked me to. I tried in every po sible way to keep him, offering 6million per season net, De Laurentiis said.But if a player wants a new experience at a prestigious club, in the biggest league in the world, you have to recognise what hes given you and not put up walls.Koulibaly made 236 Serie A appearances for Napoli, including 27 as the Partenopei finished third last Aaron Ness Men Jersey season. |
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