Senegal star reveals why he rejected Liverpool, Chelsea for Napoli stay

Star Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly has revealed why he decided to snub Premier League interest and pen a new deal.

Koulibaly has been on Chelsea’s radar for some time and they are understood to have had a £38million bid for the player rejected in the summer of 2016.

Liverpool were also been linked with the powerful defender when their efforts to prise Virgil van Dijk from Southampton came to an embarrassing end last summer, but they eventually got their man in January.

The Italian club though have always been determined to keep hold of the defender, who is rated in the £45million bracket.

“I try to be a real person. For me it was very important to repay the trust that everyone has in me,” he told Radio Kiss Kiss in Napoli.

“I had the chance to renew until 2023. I thank everyone, the president, the staff and all the players. The staff has really helped me a lot. I am very happy to be here, I am confident for the future and I am very happy in Naples. Renewing for five years for me is a very normal thing, I hope to repay this on the field.”

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