Aurelio De Laurentiis congratulated Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly on winning the Africa Cup of Nations with his national team Senegal, suggesting that the 30-year-old was right to snub a France call-up.
Senegal won the first international trophy in their history by beating Egypt on penalties in the Africa Cup of Nations Final last night.
Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis congratulated his defender on Twitter this morning.
“Great Koulibaly! The loyalty to his origins was rewarded and have made him an even greater champion,” the 72-year-old wrote.
Koulibaly has a French passport and was eligible to play for France in the past. The 30-year-old played with Les Blues’ U20 squad but then picked the senior Senegal national team making his debut in September 2015.
Koulibaly joined Napoli in a €7.7m deal from Genk in 2014.
He has played 19 games at a club level this season and his contract at the Stadio Maradona runs out in June 2023.