Napoli coach Antonio Conte revealed on Saturday that Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has submitted a transfer request, amid reports linking the Georgian winger with a potential move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking ahead of Napoli’s clash with Verona, Conte confirmed Kvaratskhelia’s desire to leave the club where he played a pivotal role in winning the Serie A title in 2023.
“Kvara has asked the club to be sold,” Conte said. “I spoke to the player, and he confirmed his decision. I’m very disappointed. For the past six months, I’ve tried to show him he’s central to our project, bringing in new players to achieve something special. But it seems I couldn’t convince him or the club to continue together.”
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Reports suggest PSG is negotiating an €80 million ($82 million) winter transfer deal for Kvaratskhelia. Napoli has declined to comment on the potential move.
Conte expressed reluctance to block the transfer, saying, “I’ll take a step back because I can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to stay. The issue now lies between the player, his representatives, and the club. If he stays, I don’t want him to feel that I hindered his career.”
The announcement comes as Napoli leads Serie A by three points in their bid to reclaim the Scudetto following a turbulent 2023-24 season. After winning their first league title since 1990 with Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen’s dynamic partnership, the club faced a rapid decline, finishing 10th under three different managers.
Osimhen was loaned to Galatasaray earlier this season, with Romelu Lukaku stepping in as Conte’s preferred striker. Kvaratskhelia, who joined Napoli in 2022, quickly became one of Europe’s standout players and remains a coveted talent in the transfer market.
