Unlike many European consultants and journalists, FC Metz supporters were not surprised by observing the very good performance of Georges Mikautadze during Georgia-Portugal (2-0) on Wednesday. Author of a superb assist at the start of the match and a penalty goal in the second half, the garnet striker greatly participated in the feat of his country, qualified for the round of 16 of the Euro.
Decisive in the last and penultimate gesture, excellent in ball retention and game intelligence, the 23-year-old showed the whole of Europe the full extent of his talent. The very one that almost allowed a very weak Lorraine team to secure an unexpected hold in Ligue 1.
Georges Mikautadze will leave the banks of the Moselle during this summer transfer window, that’s a certainty. But Metz President Bernard Serin can smile, as the Georgian’s rating must have risen during this Euro. The striker now sits alone at the top of the scorers’ rankings with a goal scored in each match, in addition to the assist for Kvaratskhelia against Portugal.
But in addition to shining individually, the Lyon native was able to experience the joy of a happy ending after a frustrating season at Ajax and then Metz. “A lot of emotions go through your head (…) It’s a childhood dream to participate in a European championship. But winning against Portugal and qualifying is exceptional,” he told M6 At the end of the match.
From there to imagining a new feat on Sunday against Spain, and a check even bigger than the 20 million expected by the Garnet club for his transfer, there is only one step. In the meantime, Metz has put on hold negotiations with clubs interested in his nugget, including AS Monaco, which appeared a few weeks ago as the almost certain destination for the Georgian…
