Kalidou Koulibaly

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Kalidou Koulibaly





Current Club: SSC Napoli.

Previous Clubs: KRC Genk, Metz, SR Saint-Die.

Loan Clubs: N/A.





International: Senegal 32 caps 1 goal.

Trophies Won: Italian Super Cup 2014/15. Belgian Cup 2013.





Koulibaly is a big, powerful, fast centre back, who relies almost entirely on physicality to keep out opponents. Strong in the air and strong in the tackle, Koulibaly has become a huge part of Napoli's defence, allowing them to play a high line and press high in the midfield.



When it goes for him, he is sensational and it feels like he is everywhere, as seemed to be against Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League this season. His pace, power and aerial ability can lead to it feeling like he is a one-man defence as Koulibaly throws himself into everything with 100% effort.



However there are days when it is not going for him, and his decisions leave wide open gaps at the back where he is rushing in to places his centre back partner should be and it can leave the backline disorganised. Koulibaly can also be rash in the tackle and concede needless, and usually dangerous, free kicks.



If he could learn to try and do a little less, it would actually be an advantage to the team, as he tries to take on all the defending himself, and it is not possible to be a one-man wall every game. Koulibaly's other main weakness is his ability on the ball. While he is not a donkey, he is not really at his best with the ball at his feet.



Koulibaly is an excellent out and out defender, almost old school in style, who wants to battle and fight physically to win the ball. The kind of player that would actually be extremely well suited to the English league, as well as the Italian one. He just needs a ball-playing centre back alongside him in the modern game, someone who has better reading of the game and can adapt to Koulibaly's rash moments.





Requested by - Becks58 & Wazza