Napoli phenomenon Kvicha Kvaratskhelia was not on Everton’s radar during the Carlo Ancelotti era despite the winger’s agent offering him to the Premier League outfit, former Toffees scout Carlo Jacomuzzi tells Radio Punto Nuovo, via Napoli Magazine.
Earlier this month, Ancelotti insisted that the ‘special’ Kvaratskhelia first emerged on Napoli’s radar during his time in charge at the Serie A giants.
Unfortunately for Everton, the former Real Madrid, AC Milan and Chelsea boss neglected to mention one of Europe’s greatest little-known talents during his 18 month stay at Goodison Park. If he had, then perhaps football’s biggest breakthrough talent would be flying down the flanks in Everton blue right now.
“Ancelotti and Kvaratskhelia at Everton? No, his name had never came about at Everton,” explains Jacomuzzi. “Even in Georgia, my agent friends had never told me about him, to be honest. When I worked with Ancelotti, never heard Kvicha’s name.”
This is not to say Everton never had the chance to sign Kvaratskhelia, however. Former sporting director Marcel Brands did admit in 2021 that he had been approached about potentially taking the then-Rubin Kazan forward to Goodison. If only he had.
“The agent just sent me his name yesterday asking if he was of interest to us,” Brands said.
Everton did not make a move for Napoli’s Kvicha Kvaratskhelia
Modern football just doesn’t see transfers like this anymore. Hitherto unknown players exploding onto the scene out of absolutely nowhere on one of Europe’s biggest stages. Hardly anyone knew Kvicha Kvaratskhelia’s name four months ago. Now everybody does, even if pronouncing it is another matter.
“Kvaratskhelia is strong,” adds Jacomuzzi, who once scouted the Georgia international’s Napoli team-mate Kim Min-Jae on behalf of Everton. “But let’s let him improve without too much pressure. He is doing very well, but let’s not damage him.
“(Things will be) more and more difficult now. There will be so many obstacles. He will have to overcome them with the work and the help of his teammates, so let’s keep calm.”
If Kvaratskhelia is not the best player in Serie A right now, he’s surely the most exciting. In 14 Napoli games, the one-time Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur target – likened to Mo Salah by Fabio Capello – has seven goals and eight games already; leaving even the finest full-backs feeling like they’ve just taken a trip through a tumble drier.
“Khvicha had an incredible start to the season at Napoli,” former Georgia ace Lasha Salukvadze says of a man who ran circles around Ajax, Liverpool and Rangers in the Champions League.
“Kvaratskhelia scores in almost every match for both the national team and his club. I think he can compete for the title of top scorer in both Serie A and the Champions League.
“It is possible that both Real Madrid and Liverpool will make offers for Kvicha.”
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