LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Kalidou Koulibaly has warned his old teammate as several European teams show interest in Victor Osimhen.
The 32-year-old spent eight years with Naples, where he came very close to winning the club’s first-ever Serie A championship.
He then watched as the team this year flourished under the leadership of Kim Min-jae, who was hired to replace him.
Koulibaly praised the Super Eagles attacker and urged him to make his own decisions about his future after this week’s £20 million transfer to Saudi pro-League team Al-Hilal.
‘Victor is an important player, among the best in the world,’ he told Corriere dello Sport.
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‘Gennaro Gattuso helped him, Luciano Spalletti was a turning point for him and now he needs nobody.
“He must feel free to choose without listening to anyone else. That’s the only way not to have regrets.’
As Napoli won their first Scudetto in 33 years, Osimhen established himself as one of the top strikers in the world with 26 goals and five assists in 32 games.
The 24-year-old received the Capocannoniere title as a result of his league-high goal total, making him the first African player to do so.
If Napoli can maintain their core together, they will aim to win back-to-back titles.
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In his 317 appearances for the team, Koulibaly talked up the Neapolitans’ possibilities for the upcoming season in what he sees as a league that is improving.
‘Napoli are favorites’ because they won the Serie A title with a big margin,’ he added. ‘But everyone will be waiting for them and everyone will make new signings.
‘Serie A is improving and the three European finalists showed it. It takes time when you change coach, but Rudi Garcia knows the Italian league well.
“It’s a great challenge for him and he can do great things even if it all depends on the market.’