Former Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly say’s he will ‘run to Naples if Napoli win the Scudetto this season.’ The 31-year-old made the move to the Premier League this summer after spending 8 seasons with the Partenopei, but speaking to Corriere della Sera, Koulibaly explained why Napoli and Naples are still so close to his heart:
My kids still ask me, ‘Dad, when are we going back to Naples on vacation?”. The sun, how much I miss the sun!
Any regrets about leaving?
“I believe in destiny, after eight years, it had to go like this. My period was over, I had given everything. From the point of view of emotions it changes little. I feel every Napoli goal, every victory, as if I lived them firsthand. This Napoli is my Napoli. I am happy to have contributed to the growth of the team.
Do you know what I’m talking about in the Chelsea locker room? Of the victories of my former teammates. And do you know why? I’m proud of them. I often hear from Anguissa, Osimhen. I have also exchanged messages with Kvara, whom I don’t know yet…”
Is this Napoli stronger than the one that with Sarri that came close to the Scudetto with 91 points?
“If they win we will say that they are stronger. It was a different football, we cannot make comparisons. That Napoli played in an incredible way, we dominated all the teams. Today even when they don’t dominate they kill the games off, they are extraordinary. I see them as solid, compact.”
So, will they win the Scudetto?
“I hope so, we don’t say it out of luck. If that happens, I will run to Naples to celebrate, it will also be my Scudetto as well!”
This summer the most important players left and those who were there have improved. Why, in your opinion?
“I don’t think they have improved. In training I have always seen them strong. Today they broke free. They don’t hide behind important players. Looking at them, I have no remorse: they no longer needed me.”
Spalletti?
“He understood me at first glance. Every day I passed by his office and we chatted before training. He always told us all to believe in him. When he talked about the Scudetto they took him for crazy, today he is proving that he was right. Now we exchange messages after the matches.
And Sarri, do you hear it from time to time?
“Less, but I owe to him what I am today.”
