The sky in Germany is leaden, like the clouds that are trying to thin out over the future of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who in the meantime is enjoying the historic qualification of his Georgia who reached the round of 16 of Euro ’24 after beating CR7’s Portugal on Wednesday night and is focusing on the do-or-die challenge with Spain. The risk that the “refrain” that Antonio Conte just doesn’t want to hear will reverberate in this early Azzurri summer, however, remains.
Napoli, however, has taken an important first step. The club reiterated to the player the importance and centrality of his presence in the blue project and also laid the foundations for an adjustment to the contract. A way to definitively lock him down, sending a loud and clear message to his “suitors” (PSG above all, but not only) that Kvara cannot be touched. No white smoke, though. At least for now. Everything postponed. Everything still to be decided. Everything will end after the end of Georgia’s European adventure. As expected and as in some respects also anticipated by the coach himself last Wednesday. In any case, Napoli reiterated to the attacker and his agent what Conte had already said in the press conference at Palazzo Reale: Kvara is unsellable. And not only. The Georgian represents the fulcrum of the club’s reconstruction after last year’s ruins. The pivot, the base, the center of the Naples project. A concept that yesterday morning was highlighted in person and in clear letters to the Georgian by the president, Aurelio De Laurentiis. Kvara listened, liked and appreciated. But the reservations have not been dissolved. At least not yet. We will know more at the end of Georgia’s European adventure, it seems. At the time.
The back and forth
A back and forth that took place within a few hours between declarations of mutual esteem, diktats from a top manager like Conte, supported by De Laurentiis’ clarifications and replies from the player himself at the end of the match against the Portuguese. «Did Conte say I’m staying? -Kvara responded at the end of the match, after also scoring the goal that broke the deadlock -I don’t know yet, I respect him because he is one of the best coaches in the world but I want to take some more time to decide. I respect Naples, I love Naples but I still don’t know how to give a certain answer about my future.” Statements that in an instant went viral and in a “nano second” froze the hearts of the Azzurri fans who until recently had been warmed by Conte’s honeyed words and De Laurentiis’s reassurances during the presentation of the new coach.
The blitz
The night could also have immediately brought (good) advice if we consider that yesterday morning De Laurentiis himself wanted to meet the player, reaching him in Dusseldorf, headquarters of Georgia stationed in Germany for its first historic participation in the final stages of a European Championship which since last Wednesday has also been enriched by the record of qualifying for the round of 16 (the Georgians will face Spain on Sunday evening in Cologne). A meeting planned for days and certainly supported by Conte himself (the coach left Naples with his family to spend the last days of vacation) who can’t wait to close the negotiation. Adl immediately followed up on what he had announced in the Court Theater of the Royal Palace, taking the first flight to Germany with destination on the Rhine. Together with the patron of Filmauro there were also the director Giovanni Manna and the CEO Andrea Chiavellithe man of accounts. Welcoming the Italian delegation was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia together with his manager, Mamuka Jugeli. Naturally, the objective was to secure the player and put an end once and for all to the back and forth over Napoli’s number 77, fueled by the pressing of PSG who are trying to fan the flames with an impressive financial availability and a desire to have Georgian talent among its ranks. De Laurentiis spoke to the player and his agent about him. All in an atmosphere of relaxation and cordiality. It’s easy to imagine that the contract topic was also touched upon (after the European Championship the offer will also come). Kvara is linked to Napoli until 2027 with a salary of around 1.5 million per season. The blue club, after having rejected the sender (PSG) the offer of over 100 million for its purest diamond, seems ready to offer the 23-year-old Georgian an increase up to triple what he received until 2029. Very important figures that perhaps not draw those of the Parisian club (ready for a salary of 10 million per season for five years), but which must still make his entourage reflect: Kvara is at the center of the project and still has an agreement with Napoli who do not intend to sell him. Should he refuse, he would run the risk of remaining on his current salary for another three years. Conte would take care of the rest.
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The morning
