Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is away on international duty with Georgia as Willy Sagnol’s men draw an ill-fated Euro 2024 qualifying campaign to a close on Sunday. Regardless of the outcome of tonight’s clash against Spain in Valladolid, the Crusaders won’t appear at next summer’s tournament in Germany.
Kvaratskhelia netted on either side of halftime as Georgia held qualifying Group A runners-up Scotland to a 2-2 draw on Thursday. But despite making it two Euro qualifiers without losing on the trot following a 4-0 humbling of Cyprus, Sagnol’s side will probably have to settle for a fourth-place finish unless they can upset the apple cart against the Iberian heavyweights.
That’s far-fetched, though. Spain thrashed Georgia 7-1 in the reverse fixture, exposing all of the ex-Soviet Union’s former republic’s shortcomings. Tonight’s encounter at the Estadio José Zorrilla will be a decent opportunity for the Napoli ace to affirm his credentials against high-profile opponents. Speaking to the press in the build-up, Sagnol delivered his verdict on the growing interest in Kvaratskhelia’s services.
“Kvaratskhelia plays in a top club like Napoli, but giants of the football world are interested in him now too, like Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich,” Sagnol said, as quoted by Calciomercato. “Playing for these clubs is the dream for anyone. All players hope to one day wear a jersey like that and win important titles.“
However, it would be better to take Sagnol’s lofty expectations with a grain of salt.
Rise to Prominence
Kvaratskhelia’s lightning-fast rise to stardom during his first season at Napoli turned him into one of Europe’s hottest prospects. During his first year in Serie A, the 22-year-old established himself among fan favorites at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as he played a pivotal role in Partenopei’s first league title in 33 years.
His prolific partnership with Victor Osimhen provided the backbone for one of the most romantic tales in recent Serie A history. But Kvaratskhelia’s distinguished talent didn’t flow under the radar, threatening to make Napoli a victim of their own success. Numerous European clubs knocked on Aurelio De Laurentiis’ doors during the summer.
Fall from Grace
A good shepherd as he is, the self-centered movie-maker refused to disassemble his flock. The Napoli president knocked back every offer for Kvaratskhelia coming his way in the last transfer window. Considering the Georgian winger’s troubled start to the new campaign, it might not have been the wisest of choices. Yet, the season is long, and there’s plenty of time to make amends.
Things didn’t work out between Kvaratskhelia and former Napoli boss Rudi Garcia. Last season’s hero only amassed three goals in 15 competitive appearances under the sacked manager. It’s now up to returning head coach Walter Mazzarri to inspire the star forward’s revival for the sake of Partenopei’s well-being in Serie A.
How Much Would Napoli Get from Kvaratskhelia’s Potential Sale?
It took Napoli only €13.3m plus bonuses to sign ‘Kvaradona’ from Dinamo Batumi last summer. Therefore, selling him at any point in the future would probably ensure a substantial profit. However, Napoli might have missed the perfect timing to maximize potential gains.
Kvaratskhelia’s peak market value was in the summer when they could’ve earned around €100m from his departure. It would be almost ten-fold the price they forked out to capture his signature. However, his form has dwindled this term. Plus, his strained relationship with Garcia sent a bad image to the world.
It’s irrational to expect Napoli to demand nearly that figure now. Kvara’s contract at the Maradona Stadium runs out in 2027. That’s perhaps the only saving grace. However, unless Mazzarri finds a way to galvanize the struggling forward’s form, De Laurentiis may look back at his decision to fend off foreign suitors in the summer with regret.