Chelsea handed blow as €100m transfer target 'dreams' of Real Madrid

Suraj Radia

Updated: 30 Nov 2023 19:49 GMT
3 min read

Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea, 2023/24 — © ProShots

Chelsea are heading into another calendar year ready to splash the cash under Todd Boehly but one of their top targets could be out of their reach after claims that he only has eyes for Real Madrid.

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The Blues have spent more than €1 billion in the past 18 months under Boehly and will operate under tight financial constraints in order to avoid financial fair play sanctions, although the Premier League side still appear undeterred in pursuing the best young talents in the world.

One of the players under heavy watch by Chelsea is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who featured for Napoli in their loss to Real in the Champions League this week.

However, despite Chelsea reportedly willing to do ‘crazy things’ to sign the Georgian, Kvaratskhelia father, Badri, has insisted that his son ‘dreams’ of playing for Real.

"For Khvicha, playing against Real Madrid was special," Kvaratskhelia’s father told Georgian football outlet Geo Team. He has always dreamed and I am convinced that he still dreams of playing for Real Madrid.

"In my family, everyone is a fan of Los Blancos - except for me. For this reason it was a very special match."

’Kvaradona’ set to command €100m transfer fight among Europe’s elite

Kvaratskhelia has been a revelation since moving to Napoli last summer, having arrived for €13.3m from Georgian side Dinamo Batumi as a virtually unknown quantity.

But the 22-year-old took Serie A by storm, being named the league’s ‘Most Valuable Player’ after leading Napoli to the title with 12 goals and ten assists.

© ProShots - Kvaratskhelia has four goals and three assists in Serie A this season.

‘Kvaradona’, as he is affectionately known, has continued to impress despite Napoli’s fall off this season and Chelsea are believed to be willing to pay more than €100m for the forward, who still has more than three years on his contract.

Manchester City, Newcastle and Barcelona have also been linked with Kvaratskhelia but the player’s long-held admiration for Real Madrid could see the Spanish giants have the edge over their rivals if they choose to make an offer for him in the coming months.