Chelsea confirmed the departure of Kalidou Koulibaly to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia on Sunday and I needed to offer a little bit shout out and tribute to the gamers I really feel deserve it after they go away.
To start with, I need to say that for my part, signing Koulibaly on the time was not a mistake. I used to be vocal in backing the transfer and thought on the time, it was a sensible purchase. I really assume he might need kicked on in his second season right here and as soon as settled much more, we’d have seen one of the best of him. However that doesn’t imply it’s fallacious to promote him now, as a result of I’ve been all for that as nicely.
Clearly hindsight tells us it’s been a little bit of a failed transfer attributable to how Koulibaly carried out while he was with us for his one-year as a Blue, however I keep that this was not a mistake signing. On the time, we have been signing an skilled centre again who had been world class for a few years in Italy. He couldn’t settle and make the transition to the Premier League, which generally simply occurs with some gamers and is simply unlucky. However after we signed Koulibaly, we have been signing a participant who had management, and captaincy expertise, and a participant who was a terrific participant.
It didn’t work out, and I’m unhappy that it didn’t work out. However simply because it wasn’t a mistake to purchase him, we’re additionally making the best choice to promote him now.
Koulibaly looks like a terrific human being, and I completely want him the perfect at Al Hilal. He by no means moaned when he wasn’t enjoying, and I even perceive he was more than pleased to remain at Chelsea this summer season in no matter function the membership may have given him. However Chelsea had Levi Colwill of their imaginative and prescient and seemingly knew that he’s eager to see a pathway into the beginning Xl at Chelsea, and the membership needed to take a position time and their future in him, and rightly so.
We wanted to get Koulibaly’s excessive wages off our accounts, and we additionally managed to select up a small switch payment for him, even after a comparatively poor season.
Koulibaly price Chelsea simply over £30m, and he’s leaving for just below £20m. It’s extra vital to get massive wages off our invoice, however that switch payment isn’t dangerous in any respect with all issues thought-about.
Colwill I’m certain can be more than happy to see a participant of Koulibaly’s expertise moved on by the membership, and this can sit nicely in contract negotiations. I’m certain he can be very inspired by Chelsea promoting Koulibaly, make no mistake. I solely see a optimistic ending now for Colwill and Chelsea.
It’s been a tough trip for Koulibaly and I do really feel for him that it didn’t work out. He appeared to at all times be one of many optimistic figures across the membership on the very least, and though he couldn’t do it on the pitch for us, I’ll by no means maintain dangerous emotions in the direction of him and I thank him for his time at our membership and the contributions he did make right here.
Koulibaly made 32 appearances at Chelsea in a single season and scored 2 objectives.
Thanks, Kalidou, and better of luck in Saudi.
