Cannavaro suggests Napoli should sign Dybala and make ´sacrifice´ to keep Koulibaly

Italy great Fabio Cannavaro has suggested former club Napoli should attempt to sign Paulo Dybala, while making a “sacrifice” to renew Kalidou Koulibaly’s contract.

Dybala appears set to join Inter when his Juventus contract expires at the end of June, with Romelu Lukaku also reportedly close to joining Simone Inzaghi’s side on loan.

Napoli supporters have grown frustrated with president Aurelio De Laurentiis, with the Partenopei said to be looking to reduce their wage bill, leaving the future of Dries Mertens and Koulibaly in doubt.

Lorenzo Insigne has already left for MLS side Toronto and Cannavaro, who started his career in Naples, urged Napoli to move for Dybala.

“If I were in De Laurentiis I would make a proposal to Dybala,” the World Cup winner told Corriere dello Sport.

68 – Paulo #Dybala has scored the most goals at the Allianz stadium in Torino in all competitions (68 goals). Joya. #JuveLazio #JuventusLazio pic.twitter.com/8LXfVbz5w7

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) May 16, 2022

While Napoli are unlikely to be able to acquire the Argentina international, Cannavaro also says they must do all in their power to keep Koulibaly.

Barcelona, Juventus and Manchester United are reportedly interested in the centre-back, whose contract is set to expire in June 2023.

De Laurentiis conceded earlier in May that the Senegal international could not be forced into staying after Koulibaly had stated “we’ll see what happens at the end of the season”.

“Kalidou represents a pillar of a team that in recent years has always been lucky enough to be able to count on him: if I were in the club I would make a sacrifice to keep him, to renew,” Cannavaro added. 

“Maybe he has demands that some other club could satisfy, but it is difficult to find players like him in that role: we must keep them close. 

“There is a shortage [of such players], you can find a midfielder or a forward.”

Luciano Spalletti will be keen to keep Koulibaly after Napoli conceded the joint-fewest goals in Serie A (31) and kept the second-most clean sheets (16 – behind Milan, 18) in the 2021-22 campaign.