Manchester United, Barcelona Transfer Offers Ignored By Napoli Centre Back

Manchester United and Barcelona may have just lost their chance to land a decent defender in their respective line-ups. Napoli centre back Kalidou Koulibaly has snubbed the interest from both clubs as he stressed his intention to stay in Italy for the foreseeable future.

The Senegalese defender said he has not discussed any possible transfer moves with Napoli, insisting that his full commitment stays with the Italian club despite the outside pressure linking him to the giant soccer clubs, which also include Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool.

"In football, you never know what happens," Koulibaly told La Gazzetta Dello Sport, via Express. "I never spoke to Napoli about leaving. If we have to find a solution, we will find it, but I have never talked about the transfer market.”

"I also read in the newspapers about my future. But I only want to think about playing, I am 100% (committed to) Napoli and it bothers me to be linked, every day, to this or that European club,” the 29-year old continued.

"We will see what the president (Aurelio De Laurentiis) will decide and if he proposes to extend my contract, that would allow me to end my career here. At the moment, I still have a three-year contract and I am not thinking of anything else but Napoli."

The report stated that should interest be entertained, Koulibaly might demand a transfer fee worth around $91 million. It was, however, reiterated that Napoli is “under no pressure to sell” the prized defender.

On the flip side, Aaditya Sibal of Everything Barca stated that Koulibaly would have been the ideal piece and solution to Barcelona’s defensive woes. This season alone, the Catalans have conceded 36 goals in 36 league games. The defensive mishaps are expected to hunt Lionel Messi and the rest of Barca as they are on the verge of losing the La Liga title to Real Madrid.

With Samuel Umtiti rumored to leave the Camp Nou, the added load on the Blaugrana’s remaining defenders would be too much to bear, making it more logical to sign a top-caliber centre back like the Senegal international. However, present indications suggest that it is unlikely to happen.