---
title: "Manchester City: Fans react to reports of Kalidou Koulibaly thinking he was joining their club"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-fans-react-to-reports-of-kalidou-koulibaly-thinking-he-was-joining-their-club/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jordan Rushworth"
section: "Manchester City Football Club"
published: "2020-10-13T18:30:59Z"
modified: "2020-10-13T18:30:59Z"
---

# Manchester City: Fans react to reports of Kalidou Koulibaly thinking he was joining their club

**A number of [Manchester City](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-transfer-rumours/) fans have been reacting to the latest report that Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly was ‘[quite certain’](https://sportwitness.co.uk/player-quite-certain-get-man-city-transfer-doesnt-mind-stay-put-now/) that he would move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.**

City had been consistently linked with a potential move for Koulibaly throughout the summer transfer window, but Pep Guardiola’s side were unable to meet Napoli’s asking price for the 29-year-old, so the centre-back ended up remaining with the Italian club, as per [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12962/12083781/kalidou-koulibaly-manchester-city-target-to-stay-at-napoli-says-sporting-director).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”302812″\]

City had already brought in Nathan Ake in a [£40 million](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53672152#:~:text=Manchester%20City%20have%20signed%20Bournemouth,manager%20admired%20across%20the%20world.) deal from Bournemouth, and they opted to move for Benfica’s Ruben Dias instead of Koulibaly, signing the 23-year-old in a deal worth around [£65 million](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54331554), with Nicolas Otamendi [moving in the opposite direction](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54331554).

However, according to the latest report from Corriere dello Sport, via [Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/player-quite-certain-get-man-city-transfer-doesnt-mind-stay-put-now/), Koulibaly was confident of making a move to City during the transfer window. That was before Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis set an €80 million (£72.2 million) price tag, which seemingly put City off the move.

Some City fans have been saying that the blame for the transfer failing to get over the line should be directed at De Laurentiis, while others pointed out that Dias was a better option anyway due to the difference in age between the pair.

### **City fans react to emerging reports over Koulibaly**

https://twitter.com/ManCioGreatest/status/1315967191045480448?s=19

> We don’t need him
>
> — Stark (@Stark03865875) [October 13, 2020](https://twitter.com/Stark03865875/status/1315966060890386432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> We got a better player
>
> — Josh (@JoshMCFCctid2) [October 13, 2020](https://twitter.com/JoshMCFCctid2/status/1315977001371668480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> De Laurentiis’s fault
>
> — Simon MCFC (@Simon40025974) [October 13, 2020](https://twitter.com/Simon40025974/status/1315966295356043264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Well adl messed up
>
> — Austin (@Bluemoonv3) [October 13, 2020](https://twitter.com/Bluemoonv3/status/1315966336267321347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Tell him to blame his employers
>
> — Last Backyardigan (@ITS\_NALDOOO) [October 13, 2020](https://twitter.com/ITS_NALDOOO/status/1315968434237308929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Glad we got Dias tbh much younger
>
> — Luke (@LukeThird) [October 13, 2020](https://twitter.com/LukeThird/status/1315966332781891584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

**City fans, would Koulibaly have been a better signing than Dias? Let us know your thoughts below!**