Napoli Insist Kvaratskhelia Not For Sale Amid Summer Exit Rumours
The agent of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Napoli have been involved in a bitter war of words amid rumours of a potential summer exit for the forward.
Kvaratskhelia is currently with the Georgia at EURO 2024 ahead of their opening game against Turkey on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old has been one of Europe's best wingers in the last two seasons but has been linked with the likes of Paris Saint Germain and Barcelona.
Kvaratskhelia has three years remaining on his contract but his camp have signalled it is time to move on from the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium after Napoli followed up their Scudetto triumph in the 2022/2023 season with a disappointing 10th place finish last term.
Kvaratskhelia’s agent, Mamuka Jugeli, on Sunday went public with the player's desire to leave, telling Sport Imedi: "We want to leave Napoli, but now we're all waiting for the Euro 2024.
"With [new manager Antonio] Conte, Napoli have big plans. I'm sure they will qualify to the Champions League again next season and fight for the Scudetto. But that doesn't mean that Kvaratskhelia wants to stay there.
"I haven't spoken with Khvicha about this issue, the most important thing for him is the national team.
"Our goal is [to join a] team that plays in the Champions League. The worst thing is that if he stays here, Khvicha will lose one year because of that ... we are worried."
Jugeli's explosive quotes were soon retirated by Kvaratskhelia’s father, Badri, to the same publication: "I don't want Khvicha to stay in Napoli. He has worked with four different coaches in one year, this worries me a lot — he will decide for himself, although it's uncomfortable for me.
“I haven't spoken to Khvicha about this topic [and] I'm not going to until the end of the Euro 2024."
Napoli have hit back with their own statement which reads: "In reference to the statements of Kvaratskhelia's agent, Mamuka Jugeli, and his father Badri, Calcio Napoli reiterates that the player has a contract for another three years with the club.
"Kvaratskhelia is not on the market. It is not the agents or fathers who decide the future of a player under contract with Napoli but the club!!! End of the story."
