Khvicha Kvaratskhelia included in 100 best football players by The Guardian

The British daily’s list notes Kvaratskhelia as a footballer with “thundering runs out wide” and a “hailstorm of goals and assists”. Photo: The Guardian.

Agenda.ge, 26 Jan 2023 - 18:18, Tbilisi,Georgia

The Guardian has listed Napoli’s Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in its list of world’s best 100 footballers, with the midfielder joining the likes of Sadio Mane, Neymar and other star players in the ranking.

The British daily’s list notes Kvaratskhelia as a footballer with “thundering runs out wide” and a “hailstorm of goals and assists”.

Having made a name for himself at Rubin Kazan and Dinamo Batumi, Kvaratskhelia had flown under radar, at least outside Russia and Georgia, before his arrival at Napoli last summer”, the summary for the player profile explains.

The €10 million transfer fee the Serie A club paid for his services now seems like one of the biggest bargains in recent memory. […] With his thundering runs out wide and a hailstorm of goals and assists, his irrepressible form has helped to lift Napoli to the top of the table and put them in reach of a first scudetto since 1990”, Will Magee, the author of the piece, said.

The 21-year-old midfielder made an instant impression in the Italian national championship and Champions League through goals and assists after joining Napoli from the Batumi club.

In October 2022, he became the first Georgian player to score in the latter competition in 17 years with his goals against Ajax, in the 6-1 win for the Italian club.

Transfermarkt, a reference website for player values from across the world, shows the current market value of the winger at €60 million.