Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is reportedly one of the dream wingers on Manchester United’s radar with Victor Osimhen full of praise for his Premier League-linked Napoli team-mate.
In an era obsessed with ‘pass completion’ and ‘ball retention’, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia is a refreshing throwback to heady days of the maverick wideman
According to the Daily Mail, there is interest from Manchester United in the reigning Serie A Player of the Year. And, should Kvaratskhelia replace Jadon Sancho at Old Trafford, the Red Devils will welcome with open arms a winger in the mould of a Ryan Giggs, a Nani or an Andrei Kanchelskis.
Or, whisper it, a George Best.
“If he goes to Manchester United, George Best’s times come back,” former Italy striker Cristian Vieri told Calcio Napoli after those Red Devils links emerged a few weeks back.
“Kvaratskhelia is the same (as the United legend).”
Reportedly valued at £90 million – a ten-fold increase from the fee Napoli paid to sign a then-little-known forward from Dinamo Batuni in 2022 – Kvaratskhelia has bounced back from a recent barren spell. He has four goals and two assists from his last six Napoli outings. Rediscovering the mercurial, often magnificent form which made him arguably European football’s breakout talent last term.
“I like him a lot,” Osimhen tells Calciomercato, Kvaratskhelia the Robin to Napoli’s mask-wearing Batman during the club’s Scudetto triumph.
“We have the same attitude to football. He’s a great talent and I like him I call him ‘The Magician’. The chemistry with him is excellent. We have an excellent relationship.
“And, for me, he is a great man and player.”
With Sancho all-but certain to depart – if not in January then next summer – Manchester United have also been linked with Federico Chiesa of Juventus, Athletic Bilbao speedster Nico Williams and Club Brugge wonderkid Antonio Nusa, among others.
Napoli’s Georgia international winger is likely to be too expensive for United, certainly mid-season.
