PSG's dream of landing Kvaratskhelia was shattered by Napoli
By Manuel Meza
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For the summer 2024 transfer window, PSG has prioritized finding a replacement for Kylian Mbappe. The pursuit of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has seen several twists and turns, and recent developments suggest the Georgian player may not join Paris Saint-Germain.
In this endeavor, the Parisian management had the strong support of Mamuka Jugeli, the player's agent, who stated, "We want to leave Napoli, but now we are all waiting for Euro 2024. With Conte, Napoli has great plans. I am sure they will qualify for the Champions League again next season and fight for the Scudetto. But that doesn’t mean Kvaratskhelia wants to stay there, I don't think so. I haven’t talked about this issue with Khvicha; the most important thing for him is the national team," he told the Georgian media Sport Imedi.
This statement seemed to begin a standoff with Napoli's management, further fueled by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's father's media comments: "I don't want Khvicha to stay in Naples. He has worked with four different coaches in two years (Rudi Garcia, Walter Mazzarri, Francesco Calzona, and Luciano Spalletti), and it worries me a lot. He will decide for himself, even if it's uncomfortable for me. I haven't talked about this with Khvicha, and I won't until after Euro 2024."
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PSG's dream of landing Kvaratskhelia was shattered by Napoli
In response, Napoli stated in early June: "With reference to the statements by Kvaratskhelia's agent, Mamuka Jugeli, and his father Badri, Calcio Napoli reiterates that the player has a contract for three more years with the club. Kvaratskhelia is not on the market. Agents or fathers do not decide the future of a player under contract with Naples; the club does! End of story."
Following these exchanges, meetings were held between Napoli's management and Kvaratskhelia's camp, during which Aurelio De Laurentiis's team conveyed their primary desire to continue with the player for the 2024/2025 season and to extend his current contract, which runs until 2027.
This position was reiterated during the press conference introducing Napoli's new coach, Antonio Conte. Conte and De Laurentiis emphasized Kvaratskhelia's importance to Napoli's project and stated that a veto had been placed on the number 77's departure from the club.
After these developments, Mamuka Jugeli's tone towards Napoli's management appears more conciliatory. According to Armenian journalist Nobel Arustamyan, reported by Fabrizio Romano, Kvaratskhelia's agent said, "Kvara's future depends on Napoli's president. If he wants to sell Kvara, he will leave. If he wants to offer a new contract, Kvara will extend." A transfer of the Georgian player to PSG is becoming increasingly unlikely, with the player more likely to sign the contract extension offered by Aurelio De Laurentiis.
🚨🇬🇪 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s agent Jugeli: “His future depends on Napoli president. If he wants to sell Kvara, he will leave. If he wants to offer new deal, Kvara will extend”, told @ANobelito.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 11, 2024
Napoli plans, very clear: new deal has been offered to Kvaratskhelia, not for sale. pic.twitter.com/i9b4FH7yfJ
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