F.C. Nantes Coach Claudio Ranieri Praises New Signing in Mali’s Kalifa Coulibaly

Former Leicester City coach, Claudio Ranieri has spoken highly of Malian forward Kalifa Coulibaly after signing him from Belgian side Gent.

Coulibaly joined French Ligue 1 club, Nantes on a five-year deal running until 2022. KAA Gent and Nantes have not disclosed the transfer sum as per the contract’s terms, but it’s believed to be in the excess of €3m.

The 25-year-old garnered eight goals last season in thirty-three appearances with a combined 31 goals in the three years he’d spent in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League.

Friday’s move sees the attacker seal a return to Ligue 1 after departing in the 2013/14 season having found playing time hard to come by at PSG but Ranieri is pleased with the striker’s qualities that he will bring to the table for Nantes.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“He is a very big player with a good head and great qualities. I hope he will bring us a lot,”[/perfectpullquote]

the Italian said.

Kalifa, who at one point had to choose between basketball and football, began his career with AS Real Bamako then switched to PSG but failed to make it to the A-team, prompting his move to Belgium.

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