Kvaratskhelia in crisis: the relationship with Napoli and with Garcia

The Georgian is unrecognizable. Still without a goal in the league, he must find his inspiration and take the team back

Maurizio Nicita

– Naples

The problem is not so much the substitutions, but the reason why they are made and how they are perceived by the player. Yes, because even a year ago Luciano Spalletti had replaced Khvicha Kvaratskhelia three times in the first four days, benching him (due to turnover) against Lecce. But the coach then did it to always have his Georgian jewel that he intended to protect in good shape and decisive. The latest substitutions, with Lazio and especially in Genoa, appeared difficult to understand.

soldier

Complicated understanding not so much for public opinion but for those directly involved. Kvara is a polite and respectful boy, almost a soldier in his behavior. This is why his gesture after the substitution on Saturday evening at Marassi appeared even more sensational. Then immediately returned to greet Garcia when he arrived on the bench. So no mutiny, let’s be clear, but certainly a malaise that makes the Georgian champion sad. It’s difficult to understand why he was replaced against Lazio, when the game needs to be recovered and Maurizio Sarri’s has always been a complicated defense to overcome. With Genoa there were only a few minutes left but even in that case the final comeback, with the opponents in difficulty, could have become an overtaking. And then by replacing the Georgian with Alessio Zerbin, Garcia’s choice becomes even more incomprehensible, given that the Danish Jesper Lindstrom remained unused on the bench, i.e. the most expensive purchase of the last transfer session. A situation which – considering Kvara’s last goal dates back to 19 March (in Turin) – complicates the psychological condition of a player who was unanimously voted the best of the past championship.

golden ball and contract

In short, it is as if the boy has suddenly rejected all those endings – from “dona” to “vaggio” – which had elevated him to an artist for his way of caressing the ball, of hiding it from the opponent to make it reappear later, beyond the defensive line. And here there is an enormous wealth involved, which also risks being in some ways impoverished given that in the summer there was talk of valuations of around one hundred million euros. Then maybe a goal, or a good performance in the Champions League, is enough to chase away bad thoughts. But who knows if the abrupt refusal of president De Laurentiis to discuss a revision of the contract (it will expire in 2027) does not also have an influence on this whole situation. The player himself was perhaps expecting recognition after the extraordinary last season. The one that allowed him to enter the list of thirty for the Ballon d’Or. With the characteristic of being the lowest paid of this small club of champions.



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