Kalidou Koulibaly’s agent insists his client “never asked to leave” Napoli this summer.

The centre-back was repeatedly linked with a move away from San Paolo, but has recently forced his way into Coach Maurizio Sarri’s first XI.

“Koulibaly went through a strange period,” Bruno Satin admitted in an interview with Radio Crc.

After a long weekend, Dave Taylor picks a 3-5-2 where Fiorentina, Roma and Napoli dominated in his top XI from Week 6.

Morgan De Sanctis [Roma]

A relatively comfortable evening but always ready when needed. First he denied a Marco Borriello bullet with a fingertip save, stopped a Ryder Matos penalty and the subsequent follow-up before saving a strong Kevin Lasagna effort. Alert.

Kalidou Koulibaly [Napoli]

Maurizio Sarri said the key to getting the best out of Gonzalo Higuain is “tell him to his face what he’s doing well and wrong.”

The Napoli Coach spoke to Sky Sport Italia after a 2-1 victory over Juventus, in which Higuain scored one and created another for Lorenzo Insigne.

“I have a very clear and direct rapport with Higuain, so I tell him to his face what he’s doing well and what he’s doing wrong,” Sarri told Sky Sport Italia.

Kalidou Koulibaly’s agent says Napoli Coach Maurizio Sarri “realised he could trust” the defender.

The Senegalese international was close to being sold this summer, but played 90 minutes in the successive 5-0 wins over Club Brugge and Lazio.

“After a few games, Sarri realised he could trust Koulibaly,” Bruno Satin explained, speaking to Calciomercato.

“The lad can grow and reach the highest level, and I’m not surprised to see such perforances, it’s just Kalidou back to normal.

Kalidou Koulibaly’s agent admits the defender could have left Napoli this summer, but interested teams ‘were not on the same level’.

The centre-back was linked with moves to the Premier League and the Bundesliga, but his representative reveals the Vesuviani’s asking price put-off potential suitors.

“Early in the summer the player was put up for sale, but with a very high asking price,” Bruno Satin explained in an interview with Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli.

Napoli never intended to release Kalidou Koulibaly, said the defender’s agent.

The centre-back had been linked with West Ham, Southampton and Norwich before the transfer deadline.

“For many weeks there was talk of new signings in defence and Kalidou did wonder whether he was not liked by Coach Maurizio Sarri,” agent Bruno Satin told Radio Kiss Kiss.

“However, director Cristiano Giuntoli always reassured him, saying he would only take super offers into consideration.”

Despite interest from Everton, Southampton and Norwich, Kalidou Koulibaly “has no intention of leaving Napoli.”

The defender has repeatedly been linked with a move to the Premier League this month with offers in the region of £8.5m (€12m).

“He has not changed his mind, nor have there been any other developments over the last 15 days,” agent Bruno Satin told Tuttomercatoweb today.

Southampton and Napoli are reportedly in advanced stages of their talks for Kalidou Koulibaly, while Jonathan De Guzman could move to Marseille today.

Tuttosport have reported that the Premier League club are close to agreeing a deal believed to be worth €12m for the centre-back’s departure.

The paper also believes that De Guzman could be confirmed as a Marseille player later today, with a meeting set to take place between Partenopei sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli and Marseille President Vincent Labrune.

The agent of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly has rubbished rumours that he could be on the way to Everton. 

The Premier League outfit had been linked with a move for the 24-year-old centre back, but agent Bruno Satin insists his future is with the Partenopei.

“I don’t know anything about interest from Everton for him,” he told Tuttomercatoweb.

“He hasn’t asked to leave, he’s played in these first few friendlies and is 100 per cent at the centre of Napoli’s project.

Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly was ‘disappointed’ not to play in the Europa League against Wolfsburg, his agent reveals.

The Partenopei won the match 4-1 in Germany, all-but assuring them of a place in the semi-finals of the competition, but the Frenchman played no part, before playing 90 minutes against Cagliari.

“My client is a bit disappointed,” Bruno Satin told Radio Crc.