- 16 May 2024
After six months without a goal - Kvaradona is BACK!
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 25 Oct 2023 10:12 BST
- 4 min read
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is back to his best.
That was evident during the sensational run which resulted in the Georgian assisting Giacomo Raspadori’s winner for Napoli against Union Berlin on Tuesday night.
Kvaratskhelia picked the ball on the left flank, glided past his marker with ease before dribbling the ball along the byline and cutting it back for Raspadori to fire past the goalkeeper.
That moment of brilliance from the man named Kvaradona was the only thing that separated two disappointing teams on the night.
It puts Napoli in a strong position to qualify from their Champions League with six points from three games, three more than Braga in third. Berlin are pointless.
But this assist also demonstrated that Kvaratskhelia is well and truly back to his best.
He now has eight goal contributions from his last seven games for club and country.
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia vs Union Berlino pic.twitter.com/7LH8wnzbmN
— Karim (@Mirko_par99) October 25, 2023
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His performances of late have been scintillating. He looks fresh, fast, he is beating men for fun and his ball-carrying is world class. He also looks happy, his wedding last week obviously helping there.
This refound form follows a difficult period on the pitch where there were some wild suggestions that 2022-23 may have been a one-season wonder for the 22-year-old.
Kvaratskhelia’s bad run of form
Kvaratskhelia ended last season badly and that poor form spilled into the current campaign.
He went six months without scoring a goal, also contributing only one assist during this time.
It has been claimed by some that Kvaratskhelia’s contract situation was a cause for his decline in form.
The 22-year-old is paid a measly €1m a year, making him one of the lowest paid players in the Napoli squad.
There have been difficulties even setting up meetings to discuss a new contract, let alone agreeing on a deal that reflects his worth.
A row with new manager Rudi Garcia after being substituted last month added to the concerns but Kvaratskhelia is now well and truly back to his best.
Kvaratskhelia was one of the breakout stars of European football last season during a historic campaign for the Partenopei.
He scored 14 goals and assisted 14 in all competitions as Napoli won their first Scudetto in 33 years.
He delivered a string of brilliant performances, including tearing Juventus apart 5-1 in January and Liverpool 4-1 in the Champions League.
This has led to many of Europe’s biggest clubs being interested in signing the star in 2024.
