Kvaratskhelia Gains Momentum and Poses a Threat to Barcelona

In recent months, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia experienced a typical dip in form after emerging as one of the sensations in European football last season, tallying 14 goals and 14 assists. However, his decline seems to have been reversed, especially in the last few weeks, following a coaching change at Napoli, just in time to face Barcelona.

Kvaratskhelia, who once declared that Guti inspired him to become a footballer, will face Barcelona again, this time at the Lluís Companys Stadium on Tuesday, in a crucial match after the 1-1 draw in Naples. However, he enters this encounter in a very different form. In the last three Serie A matches, he scored four goals (2 against Sassuolo, 1 against Juventus, and 1 against Torino) and provided an assist against Sassuolo.

These recent performances have significantly improved his overall statistics for the season, with 10 goals and six assists in 36 appearances, totaling 2,841 minutes. The arrival of Francesco Calzone as coach appears to have revitalized the Georgian player.

Known for his trademark goals, Kvaratskhelia showcased his skill with a remarkable first-time finish against Torino. His celebratory gesture, pointing to the Napoli crest, emphasized his commitment to the club amid renewed speculation about his future. Although he has been linked with Barcelona, his reported valuation of around 80 million makes him a financially challenging acquisition.

While Kvaratskhelia seems inclined to stay, his agent, Mamuka Jugeli, has left the door open for potential developments. “We are in talks with Napoli; we’ll see what happens. He will leave if another club presents an offer that the management cannot refuse. I cannot speak of a specific amount; these are evaluations from De Laurentiis.”