Kalidou Koulibaly appears to have ruled out a summer move to Juventus leaving Manchester United with one less club for competition.
United have regularly watched the powerful Senegal defender and he reportedly emerged as their No 1 defensive target back in January, despite reports he would command a world-record fee for a defender of around €100million (£89.7m).
Their interest in him has also been confirmed by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis who claimed in December that United had seen a staggering £95million offer for Koulibaly rejected.
“[Jose] Mourinho wanted him, we rejected £95million,” De Laurentiis said. “But now [after Mourinho’s sacking] it’s impossible that he leaves Napoli.”
With reports back in January also adding that Koulibaly had met with Napoli to make it clear his wish to move on.
And in the latest development, Koulibaly’s representative Bruno Satin has seemingly dismissed speculation that he could end up at Juventus.
“Koulibaly at Juventus? He’s very close to Napoli, the club and above all to the city,” Satin told Radio Kiss Kiss.
“I don’t think he would ever betray them to go to Juventus, but let’s not forget that they are professional players.
“If you have the chance to play on important stages, you listen, even if I repeat he is very close to Napoli.”