Osimhen-Kvaratskhelia: this is how the Scudetto duo was born in Naples

Goals, food and… the Gulf. On the field, a harmony that tastes like magic. Outside two guys who come from different worlds inside a dream called Naples

On the wheel of Naples, the numbers played are always the same: 9 from Osimhen and 77 from Kvaratskhelia. For a few weeks, the Azzurri fans have been looking for a double blow. Third championship and historic victory at the Lotto, so as to make a success that has been missing since the days of Maradona even more memorable. Spalletti’s Napoli has become a work of art. In the foreground are the faces of Victor and Kvicha, 46 years old together, now immortal in the eyes of a people in love with football. So connected, but so different, they haven’t yet realized what they’ve done.

Sweet unknowns

On 27 April one year ago, Aurelio De Laurentiis announced the purchase of Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. Giuntoli had been following him for some time and beat the competition from the other big names. Yet, the Georgian arrives in Italy without anyone really knowing him. In the Youtube videos he looked like a champion but it was difficult to push away the talking cricket as he repeated that “in Georgia I would play like this too”. Osimhen, on the other hand, was the classic strong striker, potentially very strong. Too bad he was still doing a relay with Mertens, someone who called himself Ciro in Naples and even gave that name to his son. The conditions for doing well were all there: young, hungry, eager to become tops. Those to make the exploit, however, eventually came of their own, as soon as Kvicha and Victor started running hand in hand. The first crosses and the second scores, when they start on the counterattack they look like two children playing in the park.

Professor Victor

On the pitch, the feeling between the two is not discussed. The best photo was taken at the worst moment, when in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League Kvicha missed a penalty, in Frankfurt, on a score of 0-0. Osi approaches and raises his head, whispers in his ear that nothing has happened. Six minutes later he scored the 1-0, proving the Georgian not wrong. Kvaratskhelia, a curious foreigner, is happy in Naples because he is discovering the world. Kim and Osimhen are his teachers: one Asian and the other African, they tell him about culture, food and traditions. Off the pitch, however, he is rather reserved. The beautiful Nitsa will soon become her wife, with her he lives in Posillipo, at the suggestion of Osimhen. Even the Nigerian, a daughter and a partner, chose Marechiaro to live in peace. The visits to the center are sporadic, all in the Vasto area, near the central station. There he meets some compatriots, above all he buys food from his country. Semolina, meat, rice, potatoes and beans: the top scorer’s recipe is served.

Cakes and children

Mutual esteem is well known: “Kvara? You haven’t seen anything yet – commented the centre-forward at the start of the season -. He does crazy things in training, you’ll soon notice”. The language that binds them is that of the ball. They speak in English, they are often confronted, even if Kvara is not a chatterbox, while Victor has become a verbal leader. Together they make up one of the best goal pairs in the world, surpassed only by Messi-Mbappé – in Ligue 1 and with PSG – and by the Foden-Haaland duo, with the Norwegian however making the department alone. The comparison is illustrious and it’s nice, even if Leo and Erling… didn’t win a Scudetto in Naples. It has been missing since the time of Diego, the god who still lights up streets and balconies in the city. Thirty years later, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia’s turn came. Maradona is something else, but the Osimhen-style cake, the Osimhen-style pizza, the Osimhen-style sandwich and the Osimhen-style Easter egg are already a good starting point. And Kvara? A child was born called Daniele Kvicha, strongly desired by… dad Armando.

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