According to Calciomercato, Barcelona remain in contention to sign Kalidou Koulibaly in the summer. The Napoli centre-back is facing an uncertain future at the club, with his current deal expiring at the end of next season. The Partenopei are keen on extending Koulibaly’s contract, but if they fail to reach an agreement the defender could be offloaded in the summer, effectively putting Barcelona on red alert.
Kalidou Koulibaly: A Defensive Figurehead In Serie A
Kalidou Koulibaly has been around the scene in the Italian top-flight for almost eight years now, having joined Napoli way back in 2014. Since then, he has racked up over 300 competitive appearances for the club.
During his time in Naples, Koulibaly has established himself as one of the most reliable defenders in Europe. He has impressed the onlookers with physical and aerial prowess in defence. But what makes him such an exceptional centre-back is his ability to rotate possession at the back.
It goes hand in hand with the modern style of football, though Koulibaly is equally effective when it comes to responding to a more dogged defensive approach to a game. He is a hard worker, who brings loads of experience at the highest level of football.
Koulibaly is no stranger to success either, having recently guided Senegal to Africa’s Cup of Nation title this year. He has also won the Supercoppa Italiana and Coppa Italia title, making him one of the most well-established centre-backs in all of Europe.
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A Shrewd Option For Barcelona?
Barcelona‘s interest in Kalidou Koulibaly is hardly surprising as the club are bracing itself for a major defensive overhaul in the summer. The likes of Samuel Umtiti, Clement Lenglet and even Oscar Mingueza are facing an uncertain future at the club and it won’t be surprising to see them depart Camp Nou at the end of the season.
It could open up a massive void in Barca’s defensive unit. Many expect Xavi to bring in Andreas Christensen from Chelsea, and in Koulibaly, the Barcelona coach could find himself another top defensive star, who is more than capable of emerging as a defensive leader for the team in the years to come.
At the age of 30, Kouliably offers vast experience at the highest level. His physical and aerial dominance, coupled with his technical prowess could add a new dimension to the Barcelona backline, especially when it comes to giving them the much-needed leadership.
With his current deal expiring in 2023, the Napoli centre-back is unlikely to cost a fortune either, thus making him a shrewd piece of option for Barcelona next season.
