Rubin Kazan won’t stand in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s way if the reported Leeds United target wants to head to the Premier League this summer, sporting director Oleg Yarovinsky has told Russian publication Sport Business.
Marcel Brands may have played down reports linking Everton with the 20-year-old Georgia international but, while the Toffees appear to have ruled themselves out of the race, the same can’t be said of Leeds.
According to Soccer.ru, Elland Road director Victor Orta has held exploratory talks regarding a deal that would see one of Europe’s most exciting young wingers – a man who rejected Bayern Munich in 2018 – move to West Yorkshire.
And Yarovinsky struck a similar tone when asked about the future of his star man.
“It is impossible not to let a player such as Khvicha go to European clubs that are interested in him and talk (about a transfer). It just isn’t right,” Rubin’s sporting director admits.
“It always hurts to lose players like Kvaratskhelia. He will most likely move to a top European league. This, if you will, is the club’s social responsibility towards a footballer.
“Such players should be let go. You take part in his development, you enjoy his development. He grows as an athlete and the basis of football is to play at the highest possible level, so you have no right to put sticks in his wheels.
“It is impossible to keep anyone in such a situation. A person must develop and move on.”
Reports have suggested Leeds will have to pay about £23 million for Kvaratskhelia.
And while Yarovinsky was unwilling to confirm or deny such claims, he did admit the talented wideman would be “very expensive”.
Interestingly, Rubin are reported to have signed former West Ham United prospect Sead Haksabanovic as Kvaratskhelia’s replacement (Sport Business).
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