Parisian Ode: How Kvaratskhelia swapped Italy for France
PSG and Napoli have reached an agreement in principle on the transfer of Hvici Kvaratskhelia. According to L'Equipe and Le Parisien, the sum of the deal will amount to about €70 million, excluding bonuses. In the near future, the ex-Lokomotiv Moscow and Rubin Kazan player will fly to France. He will undergo a medical examination this week.
They were the first to hustle
The transition of the star of the Georgian national team to a top club was predicted back in the summer - both Khvichi's agent Mamuka Dzhugeli and the player's father spoke about the desire to leave for another team. "I don't want people to think that Kwara intends to stay at Napoli. We want to leave, but we are waiting for the end of the Euros so as not to disturb Hvicha. The priority is a team that plays in the Champions League," Jugeli told Sport Imedi back at Euro 2024. - "Napoli have big plans with Antonio Conte. They will clearly qualify for the European cups and fight for the championship. But that doesn't mean Hvycha wants to stay, because that would be the worst outcome for him. He will just lose a year."
But Kwara was not let go at Conte's request - the Italian saw him as key to a successful start to the campaign. However, by winter everything changed: Hwiche was no longer irreplaceable, so he was given the green light to negotiate. PSG were the first to come forward, although there were rumors of options from England.
The Parisians are playing in the Champions League, so for Khvicha it is the most attractive option. In addition, the Georgian will have a significant increase in salary. In Italy, Kvara received just over €1.5 million after taxes, and in France, according to local journalists, he will earn €7-7.5 million a year. The contract is until the summer of 2029. Fabrizio Romano's figures are slightly different: a five-year agreement with a salary of at least €8 million a year.
Part of the money from the transfer will be received by his two former clubs - Rubin and Loko: under the mechanism of solidarity payments Kazan will earn €1.05 million, Muscovites - €350 thousand.
It is expected that the transfer will be officially announced in the near future. The player himself has already announced his choice to his teammates.
- Of course, Kvaratskhelia has grown to the level of the leading European team, he is a professional with a capital letter," former Lokomotiv Moscow and Georgian national team striker Zaza Janashia emphasized to Izvestia. - I am very happy that he is moving to PSG, because they play in the same style as him. Therefore, Khvicha will prove himself better in France than in the Italian championship.
Gone into the shadows
Kvaratskhelia's second and third seasons in Naples were not as bright as the first championship season (then Hvycha was recognized as the best player in Serie A, scoring 22 points on a goal+pass system). But even now the winger has a respectable 5+3 in 17 Serie A matches. "Napoli" under Conte is in first place in the championship, pulling away from the nearest pursuer - "Inter" - on four points. However, the Milanese still have two games in reserve.
Now the team will continue to fight for the scudetto without Hwiche. And Kvaradona will score points in Paris, keeping company with our Matvey Safonov. The main competitor of the Georgian on the left flank of the attack in PSG will be Bradley Barkolya.
Recall that before moving to Napoli, Khvicha successfully played in the Russian championship. He was especially successful in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons in Kazan. Hvicha was one of the leaders of Leonid Slutsky's team, and with his dribbling he made the whole of Europe follow our championship. Yuri Semin brought Kvaratskhelia to Russia when he coached Lokomotiv, but after the departure of the famous coach, the railroaders decided to part with the midfielder.
- Undoubtedly, Kwara went through an excellent school in Russia, gained experience that helped him to open up in such a strong championship as the Italian one, - Yuri Semin emphasized in a conversation with Izvestia. - As for the move to PSG, the player has a very good environment. I think they have all the reasons and thoughts for this move. Including Hvycha. He is a reasonable man, he knows, feels where he is needed. That's where he's moving to. I think he will help the Parisian club in the championship and Champions League.
PSG are in 25th place in the overall Champions League stage and have yet to qualify even for the extended playoffs. Luis Enrique's team has two matches left to play: against Manchester City and Stuttgart.
