Koulibaly recounts Sarri's penalty amid difficulty and gratitude

Kalidou Koulibaly, former Napoli defender and current Al‑Hilal defender in Saudi Arabia, gave a lengthy interview to the Saudi podcast The Mo Show, recounting his difficult relationship with Maurizio Sarri, the Napoli coach, and his personal and professional evolution.

The arrival at Napoli

While playing in Belgium, Koulibaly was contacted by Rafael Benítez, then coach of SSC Napoli, who invited him to move to Italy. “It was fantastic, it was a wonderful period,” the defender said, describing the enthusiasm of a three‑million‑person city that lives only for Napoli. The pressure was extremely high because the fans demanded trophies and a return to the Champions League.

The first year proved difficult: Koulibaly admits he was not yet ready to take such a big step. However, he gained experience, rose in level and lived what he describes as the best period of his career.

The conflicted relationship with Sarri

With the arrival of Maurizio Sarri, things changed. The coach spoke only in Italian with a Tuscan accent that Koulibaly could not understand, and there was no interpreter available. Sarri proved to be very demanding, giving instructions that the defender did not understand.

Koulibaly had to learn Italian at a school and rely on the daily help of teammates Aïssa Ghoulam and Jorginho, close friends in Napoli, to improve his comprehension. “No, Kouli cannot play like that,” Sarri would say; each training session became a challenge to prove his worth.

Gratitude towards Calzona and new vision

Assistant coach Raffaele Calzona supported Koulibaly during that period, providing tactical and human support. Koulibaly acknowledges that Sarri’s severity, combined with Calzona’s help, pushed him to become a great defender. He began to see football in a more “mathematical” way, analyzing it with greater rigor.

Today, an Al‑Hilal defender, Koulibaly said he speaks Italian very well and is studying to obtain a diploma in Sport Management at an Italian university in Rome, with Italian‑language courses every two weeks. The interview on The Mo Show highlighted his growth journey off the pitch.

Koulibaly also addressed the issue of racism in Serie A, recounting that he has experienced incidents two or three times. He believes the current sanctions are insufficient and hopes for heavier fines and stadium closures to combat discrimination, emphasizing football’s educational role.