Napoli team-mate Mario Rui has indicated that Kvicha Kvaratskhelia can reach the standards set by Cristiano Ronaldo as Premier League trio Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Arsenal eye the Serie A star, speaking to Radio Kiss Kiss.
It’s a comparison that has been made a few times this season.
Kvaratskhelia and Mo Salah are, according to the likes of Fabio Capello and Luciano Spalletti, two peas in a footballing pod. The Georgian certainly shares the Egyptian’s mesmerising footwork and eye for goal.
During his maiden campaign in a major European league, Kvaratskhelia has 11 goals and 14 assists, his dazzling dribbling ability and fearsome understanding with Victor Osimhen making seeing the former Rubin Kazan youngster go from unknown quantity to arguably Europe’s most frightening wideman.
According to The Chronicle, a Newcastle side with money to burn and their sights set on attacking additions are monitoring Kvaratskhelia at runaway Serie A leaders Napoli. Arsenal too (90Min). Tottenham have not given up hope either; Antonio Conte hoping to get his mitts on a player who slipped through Fabio Paratici’s fingers during the summer of 2021 (Calciomercato).
Could Napoli star Kvicha Kvaratskhelia be heading to the Premier League?
Napoli left-back Rui, meanwhile, believes that those Salah comparisons have been overblown. Perhaps, given Kvaratskhelia’s penchant for drifting in from the left, a certain Portuguese superstar is a more pertinent yardstick with which to judge one of Serie A’s best ever pound-for-pound signings.
“There are differences. (Kvaratskhelia and Salah) are different players,” says Rui, who has played alongside Ronaldo for Portugal.
“I think the coach (Spalletti) was referring to the fact that Salah has become less individualistic. The same is happening with Kvara. They are two very high-quality players, ut Kvara still has lots of room for improvement. Luckily for us he will become even much stronger.
“Maybe (he can reach Ronaldo’s level). I’d be delighted as a team-mate. He still has time on his side. I wish him well, and I hope he can get to those levels.”
Napoli are currently 15 points clear of Inter Milan at the top of Serie A. A first Scudetto since 1990 is starting to feel less like a case of ‘if’ and more ‘when’.
“There is a lot of interest from other clubs,” Kvaratskhelia’s agent tells CalcioNapoli24. “Kvara, however, is only thinking about winning the Scudetto and Napoli’s matches in the Champions League.”
“He loves being (at Napoli). He told me that, in terms of football in Italy, he sees himself only in Naples. He’ll never play for any other Italian club, apart from Napoli. He feels at home in Naples.”
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