Napoli's fascination with talismanic attackers has been alive and well throughout the years. Iconic players like Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne have graced the Serie A side, while Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi were fan favorites prior to them. But none have earned the adoration and reverence that Diego Maradona did during his time at Napoli.
Maradona netted goals in seven seasons while leading Napoli to a series of titles and cementing his status as a symbol of Napoli's passion and relentlessness. His influence in the club transcended his departure in 1991, with "El Pibe de Oro" often serving as the muse for skilled, small-sized attackers who joined Napoli's ranks.
Fast forward to July 2023, and a new name started to spark comparisons with Maradona. This time, it was an unkempt, unknown Georgian winger who had just signed for Napoli. This young star, soon to be affectionately known as Kvaradona, made headlines and caught the attention of Euro-football aficionados in Naples.
Little Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, born in Tiflis, was about to take colossal steps forth into the giant shoes left by some of the greatest attackers in Napoli's history—a 21-year-old Georgian prodigy suddenly swapping distant Georgian leagues for the grueling pressures of the Serie A.
As Napoli sought to replace the departed Insigne and Mertens, the gloomy Napoli faithful were skeptical. Here was a player many hadn't heard of, moving for a relatively meager €15 million from Dynamo Batumi, and being slotted in at a crucial spot on the left flank.
But while many Napoli analysts questioned if Napoli's sporting directors had done enough, Kvaratzhelia had yet to surprise the doubters. By donning the number 77 jersey, he would prove to be more than just a mediocre replacement.
On the pitch, his efforts as part of Luciano Spalletti's dynamic, thrilling Napoli side made him a driving force on the left, contributing to Napoli's storming attacks in both Serie A and Champions League matches. His contributions have played a pivotal role in Napoli's current Serie A unbeaten streak, which now stands at 16 games.
In these 16 games, Kvaratskhelia tallied eight goals and provided eight assists. No more was his contribution to Napoli's attack more evident than when he tormented Liverpool's defense, helping Napoli overcome last season's Champions League finalists.
Comparing Kvaratzhelia to Manchester City's Erling Haaland, Euan Burns, an Italian football journalist, found a liking to the Norwegian striker's work rate and versatility. Akin to Haaland, Kvaratzhelia could rely on his deep-lying position to produce powerful shots and secure headers.
Despite his stocky frame, Kvaratzhelia's impact could not be ignored off the ball. Unbeknownst to many, the Georgian attacker's threat to Napoli's opponents didn't end when he lost possession. His determination to chase down lost balls and disrupt the opposition's flow of play was reminiscent of Haaland's crushing physical presence in the box.
Edo Badalashvili, a Georgian football journalist, visited Napoli in September 2023 to catch Kvaratskhelia in the UEFA Champions League against Liverpool. Though the Georgian winger failed to score that night, he proved a unyielding force against Liverpool's backline, a performance that earned him an outpour of love from Napoli's fans on the streets.
"Georgian immigrants who live in Naples say we will get 'Khvicha Pizzas' because of him," Badalashvili said to CNN Sports. "Everyone in Naples loves Khvicha [Kvaratskhelia]. They wear his shirts."
As word of his visit to Napoli spread, Badalashvili was warmly welcomed by fans, who welcomed him with open arms, snapping photos, and chanting his name as if hailing a new star. Badalashvili admitted to still struggling to pronounce the player's name correctly.
"But I can tell you, the Napoli fans already love him incredibly, and he has become the first player on this team,” Badalashvili said of Kvaratskhelia.
"I have a video of Napoli fans calling the names of the players before the Liverpool match, and the name they yelled the loudest was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia."
In the ever-growing pantheon of Georgian footballing icons, Kvaratskhelia is fast becoming celebrated as one of them. The legend of 'Kvaradona' has been born, and Napoli fans adore his every move with barely hidden Maradona comparisons.
Has Napoli's fanbase historically shown fondness for prolific attackers? Absolutely, Napoli has a long history of adoring skilled attackers like Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne, Marek Hamsik, and Ezequiel Lavezzi. In fact, Diego Maradona remains a legend in Napoli, having led the team to Serie A titles and becoming the symbol of the city's fervor.
Which player in recent years has garnered the most adoration from Napoli fans? While Napoli saw several replacements shortlisted as Maradona's potential heirs, it was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who quickly distinguished himself and became the most well-liked with the fans, earning the nickname "Kvaradona."
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Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's meteoric rise in the Serie A spotlight is all the more remarkable given his humble beginnings. Born on February 12, 2001, to Badri Kvaratskhelia, a former professional footballer, Khvicha's talent became obvious at a young age. He joined Dinamo Tbilisi's academy before joining Rustavi in 2018.
Kvaratskhelia's performances in the Russian Premier League led him to attract attention from European clubs. After spells at both Lokomotive Moskva and Rubin Kasan, Kvaratskhelia found himself back in his native Georgia in 2021, joining Dinamo Batumi. Again, he proved his extraordinary talent, helping Dinamo Batumi achieve a Historic performance against FC Kobuleti, which led to his €15 million move to Napoli in July 2023.
The defensive duo of Fabian Ruiz and Amir Rrahmani anchored Napoli’s defensive line, but Kvaratskhelia's dribbling, unmatched pace, and versatility made him a nightmare for opponents. His performance against Liverpool’s Joël Matip gave the Georgian winger a platform to break England's top-tier record as the youngest player with the most Champions League assists at that time.
In fact, Kvaratskhelia's heroics against Liverpool helped Napoli secure a comprehensive 4-1 victory in the Group Stage. With Kvaratskhelia's sublime performance, he provided a clear indication of his potential to rise to the top echelons of the European game.
After the match, Rajterbork, a Wyscout scout, heaped praise on the young Georgian winger, remarking that Kvaratskhelia's performance "was outstanding, as he caused all sorts of problems for Liverpool's defense and dictated the game."
By the time Kvaratskhelia left Dinamo Batumi in 2023, the Georgian attacker had amassed impressive statistics, including 10 goals and 8 assists in just 38 appearances for Dinamo. These were results that established Kvaratskhelia as one of the most promising and gifted young talents in Georgia and Europe.
And indeed, Kvaratskhelia himself acknowledged that his time at Napoli was instrumental in honing his skills and propelling him to greater heights. As he told an interviewer, “It's a dream come true to play in such a prestigious league like the Serie A. It's given me the opportunity to grow and develop as a footballer. I'm grateful to Napoli and the fans for this opportunity. I can't wait to prove myself on the big stage.”
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