Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: Naples’ Immortalised Son

Alex Connor

23rd May 2023 | 11:30 AM

Napoli’s first Serie A title in over three decades was won in spectacular fashion, with the Partenopei dominating rivals all over the pitch. One player, the Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, has managed to grab headlines for his dazzling attacking contributions. He looks at home on a football pitch, writes Alex Connor, blissfully playing the game at his pace.

Depart at the Napoli Piazza Cavour station, and make your way down the Via Foria, which merges onto the Corso Amedeo di Savoia to the Via Toledo, which borders the Quartieri Spagnoli – a rugged and archaic neighbourhood with an unmatched marriage to the beautiful game. Situated in the middle of this sacred area is a mural painted by Mario Filardi in 1990, dedicated to Diego Maradona, the demigod who spearheaded the Partenopei toward two Scudettos. Naples still worships those days. Reminisces over those days. Treasures those days. 

It has been an endlessly painful journey. The title has eluded the Partenopei since 1990, the days when the Stadio San Paolo weekly showcased the unparalleled brilliance of Diego. Since then, the stadium has been renamed to commemorate ‘El Pibe de Oro’ – the golden boy.

This city is different. Even in glistening sunshine prior to this upcoming season, there is a palpable and intoxicating essence of excitement. A sprawling metropolis overflowing with chaotic, raw, and untameable energy. Yearning and craving their lost status as Italy’s most elite football club. 

Now, the wait is finally over. Napoli have returned to their pedestal in an untouchable season and have barely spent a day off their perch. The club has triumphed in 27 of the 36 league matches and sits 18 points clear at the summit. Luciano Spalletti has developed a dynamic, ruthless, and technically astute side, who have followed in Diego’s footsteps and are set for immortalisation in Neapolitan folklore by one of the globe’s most passionate fanbases. The Argentine had recently passed on to a higher realm. The reincarnation of this diminutive genius, Napoli’s new magisterial nucleus, has come in the form of a 22-year-old Georgian, signed from Dinamo Batumi for just €10-12 million. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has emerged as a revelation for Italian football.

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