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“Kvaratskhelia will be Ballon d’Or”

Es the great revelation of the season in European football. His name, as difficult to pronounce as his game to decipher, is repeated constantly in the streets of Naples: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Tbilisi, 2001). Southern Italy has a new idol, whose goal is simple: to be the best player in the world. Are there possibilities of achieving it?

The winger, who was signed by the Partenopean team last summer market from Rubin Kazan in exchange for €11 millionis being the proper name of the current A leaguea competition in which he has established himself as the undisputed leader of a Napoli who dominates the Italian championship with an iron fist and who is on his way to achieving the third Scudetto in its history. His statistics speak for themselves: 11 goals and 9 assists in the league.

Kvaratskhelia is a football fan, he lives for it. He is a great person and a very calm boy.

Giorgi Mamardashvili, international with Georgia

His break into football, however, comes as no surprise to those who have known Khvicha since he was little. “Kvaratskhelia has been a close friend of mine since I was little, we’ve always been together. He’s a football fan, he lives for and for it. He’s a great person and a very calm kid”assures his friend and teammate, Giorgi Mamardashvili, current Valencia goalkeeper.

football in georgia

The Georgian national team seeks to establish itself at the highest level, to be able to attend, for the first time in its history, a World Cup or a Euro Cup. At the moment, Georgia is ranked 78th in the FIFA ranking, with rising stars like ‘Kvarat’ himself and, the aforementioned, Mamardashvili. For Vincenzo Credendino, a journalist who covers the news about Napoli, success is a matter of time: “The practice of football is increasing in the country… Players like Mamardashvili, Kvernadze and Lasha show that the level is rising.”

Kvaratskhelia, goal against Spain.

Even so, the sport par excellence in the Caucasian country continues to be another. Victor Mongilformer player of Dinamo Tbilisitells us about the fans that exist in Georgia for rugby: “Unfortunately for the footballers who have been in the country, the king of sports is rugby, but their football thrives on the grit, spirit and dedication of this sport.”

It is a country where the quarry is greatly promoted. If these players go out and grow, the biggest beneficiary is Georgian football and Kvaratskhelia is the example

Victor Mongil, former Dinamo Tbilisi player

In order to equalize the value of both sports, from Georgia they find the role of young talents from the academies of the leading teams key: “It is a country where the academy is greatly promoted to catapult those promises to border countries, such as Romania, Poland, Russia… If these players come out and grow, the greatest beneficiary is Georgian football and Kvaratskhelia is the example”.

Naples, a place to grow

But before hero, Kvaratskhelia could be a villain. His signing by Napoli occurred as a result of Cristian Zaccardo’s recommendations to numerous clubs in the A league. Such was the case that the Juventus was close to closing its incorporation from Rubin Kazan in exchange for 30 million euros.

The outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine caused the return of the footballer to his country of origin to defend the shirt of the Dynamo Batumi. “Naples took advantage of the war and went ahead of the rest of the clubs to close their signing for 11 million. That price for Kvaratskhelia is a masterpiece”declares Vincenzo.

Statistics of Kvaratskhelia.

As soon as he landed in Italy, the questions surrounding his signing kept happening, but at the club they are clear: “Napoli have always made somewhat unknown signings that have ended up being great players: Cavani, Mertens, Jorginho… the club’s philosophy is clear”they comment in Italy regarding the model of the Parthenopean club.

Happiness reigns in a city that, over time, is flooded with Georgian followers: “In Georgia, requests have increased for direct flights between Tbilisi and Naples and in the area around Diego Armando Maradona there are no Georgian flags left”says Credendino.

In Georgia, requests have increased for direct flights between Tbilisi and Naples and in the surroundings of Diego Armando Maradona there are no longer any Georgian flags

Vincenzo Credendino, journalist from Naples

A new idol in Naples: ‘Kvaradona’

The imminent Scudetto of Naples can be the first since Maradonawhich has led the Georgian star to earn a nickname at the height of said milestone: ‘Kvaradona’. Their similarity on the pitch is only comparable to the differences that exist off the pitch: “Kvara doesn’t like to be around people who admire him. If he wins something, the Neapolitans will keep it in their hearts, but he needs years to get closer to the figure of Maradona.” comments Credendino.

Serie A (J26): Summary and goals for Napoli 2-0 Atalanta

Maradona’s figure was not limited to the pitch. The closeness of the ’10’ with the Italian fans and the identification of the Argentine with the humble origins of the Neapolitans created a special bond: “Maradona is a ‘semi-God’, it’s something more because of his personality. He tried to visit the city a lot, he identified with the people of the city, he said that He identified with the children of Naples because they reminded him of those of his city”describes the Italian journalist.

Maradona is a ‘semi-God’, he is something more because of his personality. He tried to visit the city a lot, he identified with the people of the city

Vicenzo Credendino, Italian periodical writer

The Georgian player keeps his feet on the ground and does not want to hear comparisons with what, for many, is the best player in history: “I don’t think anyone can be compared to Maradona. He is one of the legends of the game. It is highly unlikely that we will see another player like him.”.

George Weah, a unique precedent

The ’77’ of the Neapolitans has a reference to make the unthinkable a reality: George Weah. The odds of a player born in Liberia becoming the best player in the world were slim. Until today, No African player has managed to win the Ballon d’Or again. Arsene Wenger, who discovered him at Monaco, recounted what it was like to meet a player of such caliber: “It was like a kid finding a chocolate egg on Easter Sunday. I haven’t seen any other player explode like he did.”.

First season of ‘Kvarat’ and Weah in Serie A

To a certain extent, their stories, saving the distances, are like two peas in a pod. The Liberian arrived in Italy to replace a legendary footballer at Milan, Marco Van Basten. Kvaratskhelia landed in southern Italy with the intention of making Insigne, captain general of Diego Armando Maradona’s left wing, forget. In their first season, both made an active contribution to the league title. In the case of the Neapolitan, the alirón will have to wait a few more days.

Although it is not exactly Kvaratskhelia who resembles the former Liberian striker in the way he plays, but his companion in the Napoli attack Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian has no doubts about the possibilities of his Georgian ‘partner’ in the Ballon d’Or: “Kvaratskhelia will be the winner of the Ballon d’Or in the coming years”. His teammate, Mamardashvili, shared his impression of him with MARCA: “If he maintains this level, I am convinced that he can win a Ballon d’Or. He has all the qualities to succeed in football.”

If he maintains this level, I’m sure he can win a Ballon d’Or. He has all the qualities to succeed in football

Mamardashvili, Valencia goalkeeper

For the first time in its history, the partenopeos have agreed to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Phase in which Milan de Weah was eliminated from the UEFA Cup. Yeah Kvaratskhelia want to build their own path, Milan is the first obstacle they must overcome. As if Maradona had left him a legacy: “Get over them, like I did in his day.” the georgian He’s prepared.

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