Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: Napoli forward, linked with Liverpool and Chelsea, asks to leave
2025-01-11
Category: sports

Forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has asked to leave Serie A leaders Napoli immediately, says manager Antonio Conte.The 23-year-old winger - who has been linked with Paris-St Germain, Liverpool and Chelsea, external - was a key part of the Napoli side which won Italy's top flight in 2022-23."Kvaratskhelia has asked to leave the club," said Conte."I spoke to Khvicha and he confirmed his plan to leave the club immediately."There was a contract that was supposed to be renewed. Obviously I didn't do enough to convince both parties to carry on together. I'll take a step back because I can't keep chained up a player who doesn't want to stay."Kvaratskhelia - who was part of the Georgia side that reached the last 16 at Euro 2024 - was dubbed 'Kvaradona' by supporters during Napoli's title-winning campaign, after the club's iconic player Diego Maradona.He arrived as a 21-year-old for Â£9m from Georgian club Dinamo Batumi and has been integral since, chalking up a combined 54 goals and assists in 107 appearances.Kvaratskhelia has scored five times and assisted three goals in Serie A for Napoli this season.After an underwhelming 2023-24 season in which they finished 10th, Napoli currently top Serie A with 44 points from 19 games.