€70m Khivcha Kvaratskhelia transfer sparks all-out WAR

Tom Weber

Updated: 28 Feb 2025 08:53 CST
3 min read

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Khvicha Kvaratkshelia's January transfer has added more fuel to the ongoing war between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais.

The two French giants have been locked in a veritable cold war in recent months, with the animosity particularly stoked by the two presidents Nasser Al-Khelaifi of PSG and the eccentric John Textor of Lyon.

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Things came to a head prior to last Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between the two sides as a video call of Ligue 1 club bosses was leaked in which an argument between Textor and Al-Khelaifi erupted.

In the video call, which took place back in the summer of 2024, Al-Khelaifi accused the other Ligue 1 presidents of incompetence, while Textor bit back by calling the Qatari a 'tyrant' and a 'bully.'

During the heated discussion on Ligue 1's TV rights, Al-Khelaifi called Missouri-born Textor a 'cowboy,' so the latter showed up at Sunday's game wearing a cowboy hat. Al-Khelaifi did not attend as his side won 3-2.

Kvaratskhelia transfer sparks war

The game did nothing to soothe the vexation between both parties and the row is continuing. L'Equipe reports that Lyon have contacted French football's Judiciary Commission to contest the registration of PSG's marquee January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The Georgian winger was signed from Napoli for €70 million in one of the biggest transfers of the bygone window. However, Lyon argue that the Parisians were only able to sign 'Kvaradona' due to the financing of their owners Qatari Sports Investment (QSI), which they claim violates articles 556 and 560 of the regulations.

PSG have, in turn, contested Lyon's January signing of Thiago Almada. Due to the club's massive debt, Les Gones have been hit with a transfer ban and provisional relegation to Ligue 2, but they were able to sign the 2022 World Cup winner as sister club Botafogo 'offered' him on a free loan deal.

Indeed, the transfer of Almada has been a hotly debated topic in France in recent weeks. PSG are just one of several clubs to contest his registration as a Lyon player.

Textor has threatened to take the matter to the European Court of Justice, so this war between Lyon and PSG will continue for the foreseeable future.