Koulibaly: 'Sarri is crazy...in a good way'
Our manager at the time was Maurizio Sarri. He’s a very intense guy. So I didn’t want to answer the phone. Finally, I ran outside and picked up the phone and my wife said, “You have to come now. Our son is coming.”
I go to Sarri and I say, “Mister, I’m sorry but I have to go now! My son is coming!”
Sarri looks at me and says, “No, no, no. I need you tonight, Kouli. I really need you. You can’t go.”
I say, “This is the birth of my son, Mister. You can do whatever you want to me. Fine me, suspend me, I don’t care. I am going.”
Sarri looks so stressed, and he is smoking his cigarette. Smoking, smoking, thinking … then finally he says, “O.K., O.K., you can go to the clinic. But you have to be back for the match tonight. I need you, Kouli!”
I raced over to the clinic as fast as I could. If you have never been a father for the first time, then you cannot understand this feeling. You can’t miss the birth of your son. I arrived at the clinic at noon, and thank God, at 1:30, a little Neapolitan was born. We named him Seni. It was the happiest day of my life.
At 4 p.m., I got a call from Mr. Sarri. This guy … you just have to understand … he’s crazy. I say this in a good way, but he is crazy!
He says, “Kouli?! Are you coming back?! I need you! I really need you! Please!”
My wife was still resting, and she probably needed me, too. But I didn’t want to let my teammates down because I love them, really. And I love the city of Napoli. I got the blessing of my wife, and I went to the stadium. So then I am getting ready to play, and Sarri comes into the dressing room and puts up the team sheet. And I am looking … looking … looking….
My number is not there.
I said, “Mister! Are you kidding me?”
He said, “What? It is my choice.”
He put me on the bench!
He didn’t even start me!
I said, “Mister! My son! My wife! I left them! You said you needed me!”
He said, “Yes, we need you on the bench.”
All of this drama, and I am not even starting!
I think about this now, and I want to laugh. But at the time, I want to cry.
Maybe you think this is a negative story. But for me, this story is everything that I love about Napoli. If I have to explain it, then you won’t understand. It is like trying to explain a joke. You just have to come to the city and then you will feel it. It is crazy, yes. But it is warm.