Al Hilal: Kalidou Koulibaly reveals behind-the-scenes story of his move

Having joined Chelsea last summer, Kalidou Koulibaly never imagined he would be leaving the Premier League a year later. After a mixed season, the Senegalese defender has opted for Saudi Arabia. He has signed a three-year contract with Al Hilal. Before committing to the Saudi club, the former Napoli player felt it necessary to consult those close to him.

Koulibaly said: "I asked my friends, my family and my parents for advice. When I spoke to them about it, they said yes straight away. After that, it was down to me to make the decision and I was waiting for some answers from Chelsea.".

The Senegal international added: "They weren't the answers I was waiting for and so I decided to continue my career here at Al Hilal. It gives me game time and lets me prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations, but also lets the club grow and win trophies. I haven't come here to wind down my career. I've come to try to win the league, the AFC Champions League and, why not, put in a good showing at the Club World Cup."

"I'm Muslim, and I'm arriving in a country that's ideal for me and my family"

An indispensable player for the Senegal national team, Koulibaly also had a word with his head coach, Aliou Cissé. "When I found out the club was interested in me, I spoke to the coach directly because the national team is very important to me. I haven't come here on "holiday", I'm here to be competitive with the national team too. First I have to perform well for my club because the club deserves respect as well. Now, with the national team, I know there will be no special treatment. If I perform well, he (Aliou Cissé) will pick me, and if I'm performing worse than others who play in Europe, he will pick them. So there's no problem with that…", he said.

After careful thought, Kalidou Koulibaly decided to join Al Hilal. But first, he looked into the club thoroughly. "I didn't know the club that well, but when a club is interested in me, I try to find out about it and see all the good players who have been there. And I saw that Bafétimbi Gomis had also won with this club (…) I asked about the trophies they've won and I went to see the trophy room when I came here. I like to immerse myself and I'm trying to immerse myself in the culture of Saudi Arabia. And I love the fact that it's a very family-oriented club, not like some other clubs where players are put above everyone else. That's one of the criteria behind my choice". He added: "I've been welcomed in an extraordinary way. I'm Muslim, and I'm arriving in a country that's ideal for me and my family", he concluded.