BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 12: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of SSC Napoli in action during the UEFA Champions ... [+]
Less than two years ago, a little-known Georgian by the name of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was signed by Napoli. At the time, it was considered a risky move by the Partenopei who were transitioning into a new cycle of redevelopment.
Lorenzo Insigne, Fabian Ruiz and Kalidou Koulibaly left in search of cash and trophies and Napoli brought in unknown quantities to replace them. With many predicting an embarrassing season ahead, only Luciano Spalletti had an inkling as to whether his team would gel.
Looking back at the title-winning campaign that nobody saw coming, it feels as though the Azzurri’s past two seasons should be switched around. To think that the absurd dip into eighth position followed the Scudetto title instead of 2022’s mass exodus.
Consequentially, Napoli’s unplanned pivot away from UEFA Champions League football means that richer clubs with fancier trophy cabinets have arrived to pick apart the squad. They’re cueing up for Victor Osimhen, and, with growing interest in Kvaratskhelia, President Aurelio De Laurentiis (ADL) may be forced to let another bidding war begin.
FC Barcelona, eliminated by Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League and second to Real Madrid in La Liga, is said to be interested in one of ADL’s finest pieces, Kvaradona.
With doubts over whether Joao Felix can join permanently, the Catalans, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, have identified Kvaratskhelia as the best reinforcement for their potent frontline that contains centre-forward Robert Lewandowski and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 16: Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona converses ... [+]
Back in Naples, Kvaratskhelia’s renewal negotiations are said to have stalled. Money, prestige and potential trophies are at stake for both the footballer and his employer. De Laurentiis, who pulled Napoli from bankruptcy in 2004, has been through this before.
In the past, the fat cats of Paris and Turin came for Edinson Cavani and Gonzalo Higuain. It was only a matter of time for Ballon d’Or nominees Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen, the latter keen on a move to the English Premier League despite his new $13 million salary.
With that figure in mind, only Natan de Souza and the three reserve Napoli goalkeepers earn less than Kvaratskhelia’s $1.67 million per season. De Laurentiis offered to triple that to $4.8 million but, with Barcelona knocking on the door for some time now, the Kvara entourage is understandably holding out for more.
Barcelona sporting director Deco knows that getting this deal done will be more expensive than usual considering football’s current economic climate. In addition, ADL will play hardball. We’ve seen him do it in the past and it could get ugly.
Kvaratskhelia’s agents may present themselves courageously at the bargaining table but back in the dressing room, the 23-year-old could find himself on the outer. There are still three more years to go on his contract - hardly a position of strength when demanding to quadruple or quintuple one's salary.
From Big Fish to Big Pond
The solution that suits both parties may be to sell Kvaratskhelia while his price is high. The onus then shifts to Deco and Barcelona’s ability to integrate the former Dinamo Batumi player into their star-studded squad.
Numerous coaching changes brought instability at Napoli, and with confirmation that Xavi Hernandez is staying at Barcelona, the Mediterranean may be bluer on the other side.
Nonetheless, the ageing Lewandowski isn’t the goal machine he once was. If Barca spends all their money on Kvaratskhelia, and if Lewandowksi fades, Xavi must rely on Brazilian teenager Vitor Roque or turn to Ferran Torres.
With Yamal considered the future of the Blaugrana, and with Raphinha potentially ahead in the pecking order, Kvaratskhelia may warm the bench unless repurposed, something he’s never had to deal with before at club or international level.
NAPLES, ITALY - JUNE 04: President of SSC Napoli, Aurelio De Laurentiis, shakes hands with Khvicha ... [+]
The uncertainty of it all may be worth the gamble for Barcelona who can afford to double De Laurentiis’ latest offer. We are talking about a club that pays Frenkie de Jong $40 million per season, nearly triple that of Serie A’s highest earner Dusan Vlahović.
Like for like, both Raphinha and Torres receive over $10 million. Simply put, these are figures that ADL wouldn’t normally match. Yet, with the $7 million saving from Inter Milan-bound Piotr Zielinski’s departure, there could be some wiggle room.
On the other hand, with Bayern Munich’s rumoured interest, it all depends on whether Napoli can create a bidding war. ADL paid $11 million for Kvaratskhelia in 2022, and, according to Transfermarkt, his market value has risen to a thought-provoking $85 million - one for the Football Manager purists to ponder. Perhaps Kim min-Jae, who is out of favour with the Bundesliga giants, could be included as part of the deal.
Can Napoli afford to let Kvaratskhelia go? The managerial volatility is already an eyebrow-raiser. If Zielinski, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia should all go in the same transfer window, what is the contingency plan and what is the path back to UCL football?
Neopolitans know that lifting more silverware without Kvaradona is an almost impossible dream. With 24 goals and 21 assists to date at Napoli, Azulgranas hope Kvaratskhelia is the antidote to Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappé.
From the perspective of the Kvaratskhelia camp, the sensible thing to do is upgrade terms and lengthen the deal in a show of good faith to the club that took the gamble. But will missing out on the Champions League affect the brand?
Barcelona and Napoli are two clubs coming down off short-lived highs. It’s last season’s La Liga and Serie A champions in a tug-of-war. For now, De Laurentiis has a better grip on the rope.
