Manchester City are being linked with a summer move for Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who is setting Europe alight this season with spellbinding performances in the Champions League and Serie A, which has seen I Ciucciarelli move 9 points clear of closest title rivals Juventus.
According to the Daily Mail via @MailSport the Champions are keeping tabs on the Georgian international who signed for Napoli last summer for around £8.5 million from Georgian club Dinamo Batumi. The winger has provided 7 goals and another 7 assists in 15 Serie A matches this season.
Kvaratskhelia’s biggest attributes are his ball carrying, acceleration, true trickery and ease with which he beats opposition defenders. The Georgian also excels in off-the-ball movement and is constantly occupying key areas to provide quality passing options for his teammates. Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti deploys his side in a 4-3-3, the Italian boss has similar pressing principles to City manager Pep Guardiola, Napoli do not focus on high-pressing intensity like Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. However, Spalletti relies on his player’s positioning and anticipation to win the ball back, something Kvaratskhelia excels at.
It is obvious City have lost some impetus out wide, since the departure of Raheem Sterling and even further back with Leroy Sane. Kvaratskhelia offers the dynamism City have been crying out for, is a goal threat from wide areas, can conjure up moments of magic, is fantastic in tight areas with his dazzling feet and finally can provide the defensive stability Guardiola asks for from his wide men.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Napoli fans are calling Kvaratskhelia ‘Kvaradona’ a tribute to the late Diego Maradona, as the forward’s impact on the Napoli side is so great that the winger is spearheading the side to their first league title in 32 years since the legendary Maradona led the side to the Scudetto.