Probably six months late, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia finally arrives at Paris Saint-Germain. As expected, the capital club formalized this Friday evening the arrival of the Georgian international from Napoli. Strongly courted last summer, “Kvara”, who would have cost around 75 million euros (bonus included) in Paris, signed a contract until 2029.Paris Saint-Germain is pleased to announce the signing of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The 23-year-old winger, who will wear number 7, becomes the first Georgian player in the club's history“, announces the Parisian press release.
That he takes up the old number of Kylian Mbappé, who left last summer for Real Madrid, gives a little more symbolic weight, again, to this arrival. It is “one of the most exciting players in world football“, Who “fights for the team above all“, underlined Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, quoted in the press release, in allusion to the club's new project less centered on stars.
“It's a dream to be here. I have been told a lot of very positive things about PSG. I feel immense pride in joining this great club and I can’t wait to wear my new colors,” said Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
His transfer, the amount of which would be between 70 and 80 million euros according to several media, had experienced many twists and turns in recent months. While he was already the priority to replace Mbappé in the off-season, the Parisian leaders – and in particular the sports advisor Luis Campos – had come up against the intransigence of Naples, who this time agreed to let go of his best element.
“Kvaradona”, as Neapolitan fans nicknamed him, did not wish to extend his contract which ended in 2027 and wanted to give a new dimension to his career after having been one of the main players in the club's coronation during of the 2022-2023 season, his first “Scudetto” in 33 years.
Voted best player in Serie A, he was one of the most sought-after European strikers at that time. Since then, he has been less visible, although he scored 11 goals (8 assists) last season. “He asked to be transferred. I am disappointed (…) We are talking about an important player“, declared last weekend Antonio Conte, the coach of Naples, where “Kvara” had been playing since July 2022. Capable of playing winger as well as in the axis behind the attacker, lively, punchy and elegant with the ball at his feet, the young player regularly makes opposing defenses dizzy with his dribbles.
-Absent against City and Stuttgart
With the arrival of this left winger, PSG has therefore decided to develop its attack and compete with Bradley Barcola, less effective in recent weeks, and Désiré Doué. The latter will be able to play more in the center, which is his preferred position.
At the same time, Paris is seeking to offload Randal Kolo Muani, who was no longer part of Luis Enrique's plans and must be loaned for six months to Juventus Turin. But the transaction faces administrative complications, PSG having already reached the maximum number of players on loan this season.
The Spanish coach, who validated the Kvaratskhelia option for several months with Luis Campos, therefore bet on one more side player, with a fairly creative profile like Dembélé or Barcola, rather than that of a pure center forward, who has nevertheless been missing during the Champions League matches this season.
Either way, under UEFA rules, Kvaratskhelia will not be able to participate in the final two matches of the Champions League group stage, against Manchester City on January 22 and Stuttgart on January 29.
Author of 12 goals and 13 assists during the title season with Naples and 17 goals in 40 caps with Georgia, he would have been of great help to the Parisians, lacking offensive efficiency in the competition European. However, he was less dashing in this first part of the season with five goals and has not scored since October 29 after striking the spirits with Georgia during the Euro this summer in Germany. He could make his big debut with PSG at the Parc des Princes on January 25 in Ligue 1 against Reims.
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