Kalidou Koulibaly Fires Back At ADL: “Nobody Can Tell Me Not To Go To My National Team…Will Fight Anybody For That Reason”

Written By Jacobs Dunga

The new Chelsea defender has hit back at claims made by his former president back in Italy.

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Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly has responded to comments made by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis about not signing African players again.

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Speaking to Wall Street Italia during an interview the controversial club owner said: “Enough Africans, or they give up playing the African Cup.

“I won’t buy any more for this reason. We pay the salaries to send them around to play for the world in the middle of the championship.”

Former Napoli defender and now Chelsea player Kalidou Koulibaly has reacted to the unwelcome comments from his former employer.

“It’s up to him,” Koulibaly said of De Laurentiis at a press conference. “For me the most important thing is to respect everybody. I always respect everybody.

“When I played there I was playing also for Senegal, and I won the AFCON. It’s true that it was a difficult moment for them when we went to the AFCON, but I’m really happy today (to have won).

Ironically, Napoli won all of their matches while the African contingent were away while they only started struggling after they returned.

The 31 year old defender demanded respect from the 73 year old chief and says he does not regret choosing to play in the AFCON where he led his team to victory.

“We have to respect the national team also. You cannot speak about an African national team like this, I think. You have to have respect like you have for the other national teams.

“As captain of Senegal, I think it’s not a good way to speak about the national team, but I respect what he thinks. If he thinks the team can play without African players, it’s up to him.

“But I think not everyone in the club has the same idea as him. I know everybody over there, I know the supporters and the supporters don’t think like this.

“It’s up to him, but it’s not an idea of the society of the city, because the city is really respectful. This is what he thinks, not what the city is thinking or the society is thinking.”

Koulibaly spent eight good years at Naples after joining from KRC Genk of Belgium in 2014.

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The lanky defender was asked if he had been told to boycott the AFCON in favour of represent his club to which he gave a damning response.

“No, never. Nobody ever told me not to go to AFCON. Maybe sometimes they tried to ask my agent, but with me as captain as Senegal, even as a player of Senegal, when AFCON comes I want to be the first one there.

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“In December I was injured, so I came to Senegal early to start my training with the team. I was really happy and excited to start the AFCON.

“Nobody can tell me not to go to my national team. I have a lot of love for my national team, for my country, for the people I play for. If somebody tells me not to go there, it’s the only time I will fight with somebody.

“We are all respectful. We waited for everyone to come from the Premier League a bit late, but when everybody came everybody was happy to be there. I think in Africa we all think like this. We have respect for everybody, but it someone tells them to not come they will all fight to come.

“It’s the most important thing, and everybody has to give us respect like we give respect to everybody.”

The Partenopei still have in their ranks Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and Cameroonian midfielder Zambo Anguissa with both players yet to come out to speak on the matter.

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