Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly has a release clause of €150m (£129m) that can only be triggered by foreign clubs, according to reports in Italy.
The Senegalese international is believed to be a target for Real Madrid as a possible replacement for Raphael Varane and has been heavily linked with Manchester United over the past year.
Koulibaly’s clause reportedly comes into effect this summer, and fans on Twitter have mixed views over whether United should break the bank for the 27-year-old:
Is he gonna stop us from conceding goals? This is madness! Would rather go for either De Ligt, Dias or Skriniar.
— ?™ (@WazzaEra) March 29, 2019
Look at what Van Dijk did for Liverpool
— Jack Walsh (@__JackWalsh) March 29, 2019
Love K2 but €150m too much, i prefer Toby £25m+Saliba €25m that is smart bussiness.
— GlazersOut ® (@WarriorVidic15) March 29, 2019
Nope- better options out there, Varane, deLigt, Skriniar
— Man Utd News ? (@MrAnderson121) March 29, 2019
LMAO €150m is extortion rather than a coup
There’s 2/3 other positions to be dealt with that’ll cost a hefty sum Koulibaly is class but it’s not worth sacrificing a RW/CM/RB for cause he’ll cost more than half the budget— Ronnie ? (@Meticulous31) March 29, 2019
if VVD was 75m pound early last year i think the price is just about right for Koulibaly…….if we wanna get back to the top we should buy top players…@carlsontinashe @elliott_h123
— LT_Mub? (@mubhau) March 29, 2019
Kouilbaly + Lindelof = Unbreakable
— James ? (@mufcsznV1) March 29, 2019
If you want younger defenders because they’ll be cheaper and have more years then don’t criticise them when they struggle next season like Lindelof did. Only defender better than this guy excluding VVD is Varane and he’s not leaving so yeah let’s pay the fee.
— UtdTalk (@UtdTalk1) March 29, 2019
For a similar fee we can get a brand new back 4
Wan-Bissaka
Dias
Alderweireld
F Mendy— UF (@UtdFans_) March 29, 2019
Hell. No. Do we wanna be the joke of football when he flops!?
— Isaac Greville (@Isaacgreville) March 29, 2019
Paying big money for a defender in his prime? Yes. Yes I would.
— Jordan Colley (@JordanColley91) March 29, 2019
Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that the centre-back won’t be sold by the Serie A club this summer:
“Napoli will not be forced to sell. Koulibaly will not leave here.”
However, if news about the release clause is true, the decision will be taken out of the Italian side’s hands. Still, with such a sizeable sum, United will be thinking twice about making a move for the defender.
Koulibaly is ranked as one of Europe’s best centre-halves but the Red Devils will have other transfer priorities in the summer, such as Jadon Sancho who will also cost a fair amount.
