CARLO ANCELOTTI insists Kalidou Koulibaly is happy at Napoli and rubbished reports linking the defender with a move away from the club.
The Senegal defender, 27, has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United and it was claimed he is not happy in Italy after being the victim of racist abuse in a recent clash with Inter Milan.
However, Napoli manager Ancelotti insists the defender is settled in Naples and says his player is not angling for a transfer.
“In England, they write that Koulibaly can leave because of the problem of racism,” the Italian said.
“I do not think so, Koulibaly is happy in Naples, he’s upset like others, but it will not be a trigger for a goodbye.
“He never showed it, he wants to stay in Naples and in Italy, a country he likes very much.”
Koulibaly is one of Europe’s most highly-rated defenders and is also reported to be a target for Spanish giants Barcelona.
It would almost certainly take a world record bid for a defender to prise him away from Napoli but United are desperate for defenders and might not be put off by a price tag in the region of £100million.
Former manager Jose Mourinho tried to address their problems last summer and asked the club to sign him one of Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire or Jerome Boateng before he was sacked.
At the time, the board did not believe any of them to be an upgrade on the players already at the club and refused to sanction a deal.
And while they have improved drastically in attack since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over from Mourinho, United still appear to have problems at the back.
Despite their 1-0 win at Tottenham on Sunday, they were heavily reliant on an outstanding performance from goalkeeper David de Gea.
And they have conceded 32 goals in the Premier League this season which is as many as Watford and more than Newcastle (31) and Brighton (30).
Whether Solskjaer is given the money needed to strengthen the squad in January remains to be seen.
The Norwegian has led them to a record six wins in six games since coming in to take the reins.
Source:www.express.co.uk