'Not A Good Way To Speak': Koulibaly Responds To Napoli President's Shocking Afcon Statement

Earlier this week, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis claimed that the Serie A side would no longer be signing African players.

The Italian executive is unhappy with their month-long absences during the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, which takes place in the winter.

Kalidou Koulibaly, who has only just left Napoli for Chelsea, responded: "It's up to him if he wants to tell this. But for me, it is important to always respect everybody. When I played there [Napoli], I also played for Senegal and won the AFCON.

"It was indeed a difficult moment for them when we went to the AFCON, but we won it and I am really happy today. We just want respect for the African national teams also. We need respect for them like the European national teams.

"As the 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 that the team can play without African players, it is up to him. I think that not everybody has the same idea.

"I know the supporters and they don't think like this. It is not the idea of the society or city because the city [of Naples] is very respectful to everyone. I think these words are what he thinks and not what the city or society thinks."

Source: Evening Standard