Kalidou Koulibaly is continuing discussions with Napoli to extend his contract with a pay cut, as it’s reported he is only prepared to leave for Barcelona and they have other preferences.
The Senegal international is tied to the club until June 2023 and has rejected the initial proposal to extend at €4m per season plus bonuses.
A departure seemed inevitable, with PSG, Chelsea and Barcelona all showing interest, as well as Juventus within Serie A.
However, over the last 24 hours reports have emerged that Koulibaly is eager to remain at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and willing to accept a small pay cut to make it happen.
Napoli are aided by the fact Barcelona are his favourites, but the Blaugrana are focusing instead on Sevilla defender Jules Koundé.
Koulibaly turns 31 next week and is tipped to become the new face of Napoli, inheriting the captain’s armband from Lorenzo Insigne.
He arrived from KRC Genk in 2014 and coach Luciano Spalletti famously threatened to chain himself to the gates of the stadium to prevent K2 from being sold.
According to Il Mattino, Koulibaly and Napoli are ready to let the situation drag on until January if Barcelona don’t come in with a suitable offer.
#koulibaly, la trattativa contratto tra bonus e fascia di capitano https://t.co/9J2nqi3ILv
— Il Mattino (@mattinodinapoli) June 17, 2022