Three coaches, 10th place in the league in the end and no ticket for international business – SSC Napoli’s 2023/24 season was one to forget. Now Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s agent is even threatening to force him to leave. The club is fighting back
On Tuesday, Georgia starts the European Championship – for the first time in the history of the small country. The hopes of the local fans rest largely on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the European Championship premiere. The 23-year-old has scored 15 goals in 30 international appearances so far, and a year ago he led SSC Napoli to the Italian championship and the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
However, things did not go so well for the Azzurri last season. This time, they finished in the round of 16 in the top flight, while the defending champions only finished 10th in the league despite eleven goals and eight assists from Kvaratskhelia – and thus outside the international places.
This is obviously not enough for the Georgian and his immediate entourage. Shortly before the start of the European Championship, his advisor and his father are now causing a stir with public thoughts of a change. “I don’t want people to think that Khvicha wants to stay in Naples,” explained Mamuka Jugeli, Kvaratskhelia’s advisor, in an interview with Georgian TV station Sport Imedi.
“We want to leave, but we are waiting for the end of the European Championship so as not to disturb Khvicha,” continued Jugeli, who also already has a rough goal in mind: “Our priority is to move to a team that plays in the Champions League.” In recent weeks, Paris St. Germain have been touted as a hot candidate in the bidding for the winger.
Napoli make it clear: “Kvaratskhelia is not on the market “
Father Badri was even clearer: “I don’t want my son to stay in Naples. They had three coaches last season. It’s difficult to play in a situation like that.” After winning the title in 2023, champion coach Luciano Spalletti, now Italy’s national team coach, left Napoli; his successor Rudi Garcia was unsuccessful and had to leave after just five months. Walter Mazzarri then took over from November 2023 to February 2024, and SSC Napoli finally brought the season to a close under Francesco Calzona. Antonio Conte will be on the sidelines from the coming season.
And if the club has its way, Conte can also plan with Kvaratskhelia. On Monday night, Napoli published a statement on the short messaging service X in which it insisted on the Georgian’s current working paper until 2027: “With reference to statements by Kvaratskhelia’s agent Mamuka Jugeli and his father Badri, Calcio Napoli confirm that the player has a three-year contract with the club.”
Furthermore, the club reiterated: “Kvaratskhelia is not on the market. It is not the agents or fathers who decide the future of a player under contract with Napoli, but the club.” The statement concluded with “Fine della storia” – the end of the story. Presumably it’s just the beginning