Why Kalidou joined Chelsea and not Barcelona

Spanish side Barcelona seems to be out to snatch every Chelsea target this summer as most of the Blues target linked to both clubs ends up completing a move to Camp Nou despite their financial woes.

Senegal international Kalidou Koulibaly was a standout as he was equally linked with moves to Barca but chose to join the Blues this summer from the Italian side Napoli.

Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, in a recent statement has, however, opened up on why Koulibaly moved from the club to Chelsea this summer.

De Laurentiis revealed that the Naples refused to sell the Senegal defender to Barcelona, because “they had no money”.

He told Radio Kiss Kiss: “Koulibaly wanted to leave, I told him: I can’t sell you to Barcelona as they had no money.

“Then we received a proposal from Chelsea, it was impossible to say no.

“I offered €6.5m/season to Koulibaly, he wanted to go.”

Recall that Koulibaly joined the Blues in a £33 million transfer this summer and happens to be their second major signing after Raheem Sterling from Man City.