Robert Di Matteo former Chelsea manager has praised Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly, describing him as a top-class player in his peak.
Koulibaly recently transferred from Napoli to the Premier League team, and Di Matteo has further underlined the advantages for the London club in having the Africa Cup of Nations star on board.
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“Being Italian, I watch Italian football quite a lot and with regards to Koulibaly, he’s a top-class player,” Di Matteo told the club’s website.
“He will bring physicality, which you need in the Premier League, but he also has a lot of technical ability and he has the tactical awareness that you see from the Italian sides in Serie A.
“So, I think he [would] be a good signing for Chelsea. I feel like we are getting a top player who is in the prime of his career, so I can only see positive things.”
Chelsea’s high-profile summer signings thus far have been Koulibaly and Raheem Sterling, and Di Matteo reckons both will boost the Blues.
“Koulibaly and Sterling are two brilliant signings,” said Di Matteo. “I think they are going to be very important for the team this season and for the future,” the retired defender said.
“They are two players that I think will have a big impact at the club, and I’m sure the coach knows them very well in terms of how he wants to utilise them.
“I think they will bring a lot of quality to the side, for sure.”
Sterling and Koulibaly both played in the 4-0 preseason defeat to Arsenal, and Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel lauded Koulibaly for his brief performance.
“He was the best player. He was incredibly good, I have to say. On an evening where nothing felt good, this felt very good,” the German tactician said.
Before the beginning of next season, when they take on Everton on August 6, Chelsea is slated to meet Italian team Udinese on July 29 in another friendly game.
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