In a recent interview, ex-Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly spoke out about Manchester United’s interest in him during the 2018 summer transfer window.
In 2018, the former Serie A star, Kalidou Koulibaly, shared how Manchester United had their interest piqued for the player, with reports showing figures over £80 million for the Senegalese international.
The defender also expressed how the move to the Premier League had also been something that he too was interested in.
However, Football Italia reports that the near €100 million offer from United was declined by ex Napoli head coach Carlo Ancelotti had threatened resignation if the club were to accept the bid from Old Trafford.
Currently playing in the Saudi Pro League for Al Hilal, the defender took to sharing the story in a recent podcast interview, opening up about his past transfer situation.
Why didn’t Koulibaly sign for United
“Napoli had received an offer worth €100m from Manchester United, but they rejected it,” the defender recalled, explaining to ZackNaniTV.
When Ancelotti asked Koulibaly his thoughts on leaving Napoli, the defender told the manager he “wanted to leave”; however, Ancelotti had a very different opinion on the transfer situation, stating that if Koulibaly were to accept the offer, “he would’ve resigned the following day.”
This left Manchester United without their star player, who signed in the summer of 2018, and a bid of over £85 million fell through.
One season later, United then signed Harry Maguire for a fee of around £80 million from Leicester City, with Koulibaly eventually joining Chelsea four years later for a fee of around £33 million.
Why are United no longer pressing for big deals?
While some may say the €100 million bid for Koulibally was excessive, it sparks questions about why the club are no longer making deals with such a large sum.
One reason can be the shift to sustainable spending. INEOS want to move away from the “Galáctico” era of signing expensive names for marketing appeal. With the club under financial strain, they can’t make the same mistakes they did before, signing big names who often flop, as seen with the likes of Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Paul Pogba, to name a few.
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The goal for United now lies with value-based recruitment, looking for players who fit the club’s style, rather than big names.
This resonates with the new strict wage cap system the club are said to be considering (a reported £200,000 ceiling), making similar deals, such as the one for Koulibaly, nearly impossible for Utd at this time.
Some would argue that this is a positive, helping attract players who are motivated to play football, rather than the money they will receive. Now, with INEOS recruiting more savvy staff, there’s a proper sporting structure within the club, meaning that these big deals are just no longer feasible.
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