"Was that Korean really a replacement for Koulibaly?" The doubt soon turned into conviction. Luciano Spalletti (66), the former Napoli coach, recalled, "I absolutely believed it."
Currently leading the Italy national team, Coach Spalletti revealed the untold story of winning at SSC Napoli through his recent autobiography. The Italian media outlet 'Area Napoli' spotlighted this content on the day of its publication, 6th (Korean time).
Spalletti candidly shared the anxiety and skepticism that lingered within the team ahead of the 2022-2023 season.
He showed a strong commitment, saying, "I told the players that there is no other option but the Scudetto if we want to make real history," but the situation at the time was challenging. Key players, including David Ospina, Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens, and Kalidou Koulibaly, left the team all at once.
The departure of Koulibaly, who was a core part of the defense, was particularly shocking. Koulibaly joined Napoli in 2014 from KRC Genk and was an essential defender for the team for a remarkable 8 years until 2022.
Spalletti admitted that he was prepared to be tied down with chains to avoid letting Koulibaly go, acknowledging the significant concern about his absence.
The player chosen to fill that role was Kim Min-jae. On the offensive side, it was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and defensively, it was Kim Min-jae. Regarding this, Spalletti recalled, "Kvaratskhelia had strong recommendations from Russian friends, and I fully trusted then Director General Cristiano Giuntoli. He was right."
Napoli's owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, was not easily convinced. Spalletti stated, "He asked me, 'Coach, how do you expect to strengthen Napoli by bringing in a Korean (Kim Min-jae) and a Georgian (Kvaratskhelia)?'" vividly conveying the chairman's skepticism at the time.
The outcome was as everyone knows. Kim Min-jae and Kvaratskhelia emerged as the best talents in Serie A, and Napoli won the league title after 33 years. The 'unknown' perspective and the prejudice related to nationality became meaningless in front of Spalletti's conviction.
Kim Min-jae was recognized for his consistent defensive skills even on the Italian stage, playing a central role in Napoli's defense. At the 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony, he was the only Asian player included in the final list of 30 candidates, ranking 22nd overall, the highest among defenders. Khvicha performed for another year at Napoli before transferring to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), where he is now one of Europe’s top wingers.
The emergence of Kim Min-jae and Khvicha, along with Spalletti's belief, ultimately became part of history.
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