New Napoli signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is bound to have a starring role in Luciano Spalletti’s squad in 2022/23, after the departure of club legends Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens. He is the Partenopei’s only attacking addition this summer.
The Georgian wonderkid spoke about his boyhood dream of playing in the UEFA Champions League in an exclusive interview to Il Mattino at Castel di Sangro, where he was granted the opportunity to listen to the competition anthem before being asked about it.
“The Champions League represents my first football dream, practically since I started playing. In Naples, the atmosphere is even more engaging and I can’t wait to take the field in those matches.”
The young attacker was quizzed regarding the fact that many people referred to him as the Messi of Georgia due to his mercurial abilities to push forward from the wings – something he took the time to reflect upon.
“Maybe, I would add. Because Messi is a player who seems to have come from another planet. I am inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo because he is the same level as Messi thanks to hard work and sacrifice. I would also like to have the same career as him.”
He further shed light on his idol Ronaldo.
“Cristiano is a great footballer and an incredible professional, that’s why I always draw inspiration from him.”
Kvaratskhelia had to leave Russia – where he was playing with Rubin Kazan – due to the war, heading back home with Dinamo Batumi, and ultimately ended up at Napoli.
“I was in Kazan for two years and I was doing great especially in the last period. But then the war broke out and I realized I had to go home. I was not afraid of war, but I felt the need to return to my land, in a safer state. In Georgia, football is lived in a very passionate way: in the last match I played with the national team, the fans moved from one side of the stadium to the other at half-time to be able to see me up close: it was incredible.”
Earlier, the Georgian had revealed the moment that made him choose Napoli as his next club, ahead of fellow suitors Juventus and Milan. He will make his Serie A debut at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi against Hellas Verona on August 14th.