Change in winter
“Blackmailed”: Sport-Boss makes hints
05.02.2025 – 7:44 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
At SSC Naples, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was one of the top performers before moving. Now sports director Giovanni Manna talks about it.
In January, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia asked for a change from SSC Naples to Paris Saint-Germain. A few days later, his wish fulfilled and he signed a contract with the French champion until 2029. Naples sports director Giovanni Manna has now talked about the sale – and made curious hints.
“We tried to solve a complicated situation in July, then again in November and December. But we were forced to sell it in this transfer window because we – I don’t want to say, have been blackmailed, but almost,” said Manna on a media round on Wednesday. “We had to take this step.” What exactly he meant by it did not lead further.
According to Manna, Naples and Kvaratskhelia were still in discussions about contract extensions 20 days before moving. “But then the dynamics of the market and the player’s change request made us take a different way,” continued Manna.
Even before the duel against Hellas Verona (2-0) in mid-January, Naples coach Antonio Conte confirmed Kvaratskhelias of an immediate change: “Kvara asked the club to change. I spoke to the player and he has made his decision confirmed.” The striker was already missing in the squad at the time.
Kvaratskhelia came to Naples in 2022, coach Conte would have liked to have kept him. He received the news from “Heighing Heaven” and thought after a change had already been an issue last summer that he had convinced Kvaratskhelia to stay. Ultimately, the Georgian moved to Paris for 70 million euros.