Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly’s agent has highlighted the role of current Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez in his client’s development.
Koulibaly has been central to Napoli’s attempts to wrestle away the Serie A title from Juventus this season and he scored the winning at the weekend that cut down the Bianconeri’s lead at the top of the table to just one point.
Maurizio Sarri has emerged as one of the coaching stars of European football this season because of Napoli’s exploits and Bruno Satin, the defender’s agent, admits that his client has reached the next level under the former banker.
However, the defender’s agent also highlighted the role Benitez played during his stint at Napoli in improving Koulibaly as a defender and insisted that the current Newcastle boss was important for his development.
Satin said on Italian radio station Radio Kiss Kiss: “Of course Sarri has helped Kalidou to grow and he has continued to improve and gain experience.
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“He has developed in each step.
"When he came under the coaching of Benitez, he improved a lot, but under Sarri he has taken a quantum leap.
“It’s not only his physical strength and his physically that is very scary, but it also the responsibility to play out from the back.
“Not many defenders have the ability to play dangerous passes.”
Napoli signed Koulibaly in 2014 while Benitez was still in charge of the club and the Senegalese was introduced to Italian football by the Spanish coach.
