Replaced by his coach Willy Sagnol in the 88th minute, Saturday in Hamburg against the Czech Republic, Georges Mikautadze, leaving the field from the Georgian area, sent a frustrated punch into the corner post… before saluting along from the sidelines the Georgian supporters who cheer him.
Because Mikautadze scored both of Georgia’s goals in the competition. Against Turkey last Tuesday (3-1 defeat), he equalized by perfectly deflecting a strong, low cross to the near post. Mikautadze’s mark: composure, virtuosity, accuracy. A real surface technician. Saturday fell to him with the heavy responsibility of converting a penalty. The opposing supporters’ stand, a red as aggressive as their decibels, would have intimidated more than one, but “King George” did not tremble and scored with an uncrossed shot into the top corner (45th +4 ).
Its value increases
The value on the transfer market of this nugget, born in Lyon in October 2000, will increase further during the Euro. At FC Metz, who brought him back at the start of January from his failed loan to Ajax Amsterdam and took advantage of his talent in the second half of the season (14 goals and 4 assists in 22 matches), without managing to stay in the League 1, we resolve to see him leave for a French elite club – rumors have so far sent him to Monaco, Lens, Lyon and even Marseille.
In a different register, with his discreet personality – even though he is a superstar in his small country of 3.7 million inhabitants – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was also decisive on Saturday. “As soon as he took the ball, he sprinted towards the area,” said Czech coach Ivan Hasek, incredulous and admiring. By regularly forcing the Czech block to retreat, causing several fouls and yellow cards on the opposing side, “Khvicha”, whose first name was chanted several times, was one of the most influential players on the pitch. And it was his long free kick, very well taken towards the area, which provoked a hand from a defender and the sanction of the penalty.
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A turning point in a career
Here too, the clubs are on the lookout. According to several media, Paris Saint-Germain, which seeks to compensate for the departure of Kylian Mbappé, and Liverpool hope to buy him this summer from Naples, where he was one of the great architects of the Serie A title in 2022-2023 . “A great player like him should never worry about his future,” commented Willy Sagnol. “If he has a good Euro, his future will be even brighter. »
The 23-year-old star must nevertheless negotiate this turning point well. A week ago, his agent somewhat heated Neapolitan minds by setting “the priority of finalizing a transfer to a team competing in the Champions League”. Dry response from the club chaired by Aurelio De Laurentiis: “Kvaratskhelia is not for sale. (…) It’s the club that decides. End of the story. » But the story will continue on Wednesday at the Euro against Portugal.
