Barcelona couldn't financially compete with Chelsea for Koulibaly, says De Laurentiis

Barcelona could not financially compete with Chelsea for the signing of centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, according to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

Chelsea confirmed the signing of Koulibaly last weekend in a deal worth £33.8m (€40m), ending the eight-year stay of the defender in Naples.

La Liga heavyweights Barca, whose financial troubles have been well documented over the past year, were also interested in the Senegal international.

However, De Laurentiis claims the Catalan club could not meet Napoli's assessment for Koulibaly, who was in the final year of his contract at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

"Barcelona had come, but they had no money because they were in debt," he told Radio Kiss Kiss. "Then Chelsea showed up and we couldn't say no."

Koulibaly helped Napoli to three Serie A runners-up finishes and win the Coppa Italia in 2020, as well as winning the Supercoppa Italiana shortly after arriving in Italy.

Since joining the club in 2014, no defender in Italy's top flight has won more tackles than Koulibaly (344), or made more successful passes (14,528).

De Laurentiis has revealed that Napoli have offered the 31-year-old an improved contract in an attempt to push Chelsea away.

“I let Koulibaly go because he asked me to. I tried in every possible way to keep him, offering 6 million euros net per season,” said De Laurentiis.< /p>

"But if a player wants to live a new experience in a prestigious club, in the biggest league in the world, you have to recognize what he has given you and not erect walls."

Koulibaly has made 236 Serie A appearances for Napoli, including 27 as the Partenopei finished third last season.