New Chelsea, who signed Kalidou Koulibaly, have insisted they will never stop anyone from playing football for Senegal.
The Senegalese captain said that African nations deserve more respect after the president of his former club, Napoli, said he would only be willing to let African or South American players compete with their national teams.
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“Don’t talk to me about Africans anymore,” Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis told the business website Wall Street Italia.
“I wish them well, but either they sign waivers for the African Cup or…”
“Between that tournament and” World Cup qualifiers in South America, these players are never available!”
But Senegalese captain Koulibaly, who led his country to the Africa Cup of Nations title earlier this year, joined Chelsea before joining Serie A side Napoli in a £34 million ($41 million) move. were not affected by.
“Nobody ever told me not to go to AFCON or anything like that,” Koulibaly said during a news conference on Wednesday.
“Maybe sometimes they try to ask my manager or something like that.
“But I, now as captain of Senegal, when AFCON comes I have to be the first there, the first in Senegal.”
Koulibaly, who signed a four-year contract with Chelsea after the club was bought by the union of American businessman Todd Boehley, said: “No one can tell me not to go to my national team. I love my national team very much.” The team I play for.
“So, if someone told me to do this, it would be the only time I could fight with someone.
“We are all honored by the way we feel with our national team at all times, we look forward to the arrival of players from the Premier League, and everyone is happy to be here.
“Everyone in the national team thinks the same way as me. If someone asked them not to come, they would always fight to come.
“That’s the most important thing. Everyone has to respect us.”
Koulibaly will now consolidate a defense without Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen after leaving Stamford Bridge.
He will wear the number 26 shirt made famous by Chelsea great John Terry with permission from blues legend.
“I called John and in the beginning, he didn’t believe it was me, he thought it was a joke,” Koulibaly explained. “So he called the team manager to ask if it was really me.
“I know it’s a very important number for John, but it’s also a very important number for me because I took it at Napoli.
“And when he said yes I was very happy because I know what he did for the club and the supporters here.
“I wanted to tell everyone I asked him before because I didn’t want to insult a legend of the club.”
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