Club legend urges Kvaratskhelia to SNUB Chelsea

Tom Weber

Updated: 29 Jun 2024 16:51 BST
3 min read

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Napoli, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Napoli legend Marek Hamsik has urged Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to stay put this summer.

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The Georgian hero is currently enjoying a fairytale ride at Euro 2024, having reached the knockout stages in his country's first-ever participation at a major international tournament.

Georgia will face an uphill battle against overwhelming favourites Spain, but they have thus far shown that they can get at anyone and cause them issues. It will be a fascinating watch, that is for sure.

As for Kvaratskhelia, it is a far cry from the season he just endured with Napoli as the defending champions slumped to 10th in the Serie A standings. Ahead of Euro 2024, both his agent and his father did their best to break the transfer market by announcing the 23-year-old's intention to leave the club.

'Kvaradona' should stay

This prompted an angry and public response from the club. More recently, president Aurelio de Laurentiis and new coach Antonio Conte also chimed in, with the former announcing his desire to offer the winger a new contract and the latter saying that he is going nowhere.

In fact, Conte stated that he has 'placed an absolute veto' on the potential sale of Kvaratskhelia. It is not clear whether the player actually wants out or whether his agent and father were simply trying to put pressure on Napoli to break the bank with their contract offer.

As far as Napoli icon Marek Hamsik is concerned, Kvaratskhelia should snub interested clubs Chelsea and PSG, stay put and become the face of the exciting project under Conte. Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Slovak, now part of his country's coaching team at Euro 2024, said:

"Napoli needs champions like him who get the fans going and win games by making a difference. And now that there is Conte on the bench, I’m very curious and optimistic.”