
Napoli
rejected a Chelsea offer of £58m for Kalidou Koulibaly at the end of the
summer transfer window, according to their chairman.
Antonio Conte had a £38m bid for the centre-half rejected in July, according
to Sky sources.
But Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed Chelsea returned more than once
before eventually turning their attention to Paris Saint-Germain's David
Luiz.
"They offered to me £30, 35, 40, 45, 50 [million]," De Laurentiis told Sky
Sports News HQ. "Mr. Conte I said, '[The] marina is behind me, follow me', I
offered him that. Last moment, two days before the closing of the market, I
hear £58 [million] - something like that."
Koulibaly eventually signed a new contract with Napoli that ties him to the
Serie A club until 2021 but, according to De Laurentiis, that does not
guarantee he will not be sold.
"Koulibaly I need here to make the match," De Laurentiis said. "I need to
play, so I need the players. Koulibaly, this year, will remain here. Next
year we will speak about."
Asked to confirm if Chelsea made a £58m offer, De Laurentiis said: "Yes. He
will never say it is true because I know Antonio. Ciao Antonio."