John Terry hung up on Kalidou Koulibaly because he thought it was a prank call.
Koulibaly rang the Chelsea legend to ask for permission to take his No.26 shirt after completing his £34million move to Stamford Bridge. But former Chelsea captain Terry did not believe it was really Koulibaly on the other end of the phone and insisted on checking it was not a wind-up.
Senegal defender Koulibaly, 31, who has signed a four year deal, wanted the No.26 because he wore the shirt at Napoli and revealed he also spoke to ex-Chelsea and Napoli star Gianfranco Zola for advice before moving to Chelsea.
Koulibaly said: “I asked Gianfranco Zola, who told me the story of Chelsea and gave me the number for John to ask him for the jersey. He gave me the number and I called him.
"At the beginning he didn't believe that it was me, he thought it was a joke. He called the team manager to ask if it was me. I know it's an important number... when he told me 'yes' I was very happy. I know what he did for the club and its supporters.”
Koulibaly has even put a video of the phone call with Terry on social media when the ex-England captain eventually gave him the green light to take the No26 shirt.
Koulibaly revealed he came close to joining Chelsea under Antonio Conte six years ago and always wanted to move to English football. But the ex-Napoli defender admits it may time to settle in and also does not want to be compared to Antonio Rudiger.
Koulibaly added: ”Everything is faster. I have to go faster. This is the most difficult for a player in the Premier League. In Serie A, it's more calm. Here, you have to think very fast. This is the first thing I have to change."
“He's a really good player, I know what he did for Chelsea. I'm happy for him to join Real Madrid. But for me, it's not a pressure. I'm happy to be here. I don't want to be a guy who replace Rudiger, I'm Koulibaly.
"I hope I will be here for a long time. I want to show on the pitch that they made a good choice with me. I will do my best. I want to show everybody that they made a good choice. This team is fantastic."
“It's a long time since the Premier League wanted me to come... the moment was now. Maybe before it wasn't ready. I don't like fighting to leave, I will never fight to go out. This time was a good time to leave Napoli."
