Former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly has taken a dig at the club after he completed a £20 million deal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
The 32-year-old, who donned the Blue outfit in a less-than-stellar campaign, made it abundantly clear that his quick Stamford Bridge departure was anything but mournful.
The once-coveted ex-Napoli star had a torrid time on the English turf, which was reflected in his mere 23 appearances.
Koulibaly’s short stint in England and the disappointing campaign he shared with Chelsea were possibly due to a lack of regular on-field action.
He candidly voiced his grievances with his previous club in a conversation with Corriere dello Sport, “I had no guarantees to get regular playing time [at Chelsea]. I was always professional, but I don’t like to sit on the bench doing nothing.
“I prefer a place where I am wanted and at the centre of the project and can be an example for young players.”
This is a drastic departure from the fanfare that met Chelsea’s £34 million acquisition of Koulibaly, touted as a significant triumph.