A scene that leaves no room for doubt about the state of mind of the Neapolitan fans: the cardboard cutout of Khvisha Kvaratskhelia, once a symbol of the Italian champion team, was abandoned in the rubbish bins in Piazza Cavour.
A symbolic gesture that represents the city's disappointment and bitterness at the choice of the Georgian winger, now one step away from a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
That silhouette, which last year proudly stood out among the alleys of Spanish Neighborhoods as part of the celebratory formation of the Scudetto, has now become an emblem of the rift between the player and the fans. A video, which has gone viral on social media, shows a fan throwing the cardboard cutout into the garbage bin, accompanying the gesture with a bitter comment: "You're signing and this was my first thought this morning. Look how good you look here."
The idyll between Napoli and Kvaratskhelia cracked when the player clearly expressed his desire to leave the team, led by Antonio Conte, currently at the top of the table. Despite the excellent performances provided in this first half of the season, the winger has not forgotten the lack of agreement on the renewal of the contract, which began during the summer retreat and was never concluded.
With a salary of just €1,5 million, Kvaratskhelia was the fifteenth on the list of Azzurri salaries, a situation that many fans consider unsustainable: “How did we think he would stay?” read the comments on social media. Others criticize the choice to leave a leading team in the middle of the season: “Leaving now instead of waiting for the summer, bah.”
The farewell, now imminent, will take the Georgian to Paris for medical visits and the signing with the PSGThe deal includes a transfer of 70 million euros plus bonuses that could raise the figure to 75 million, with a four-year contract and a salary of around 9 million per season.
Napoli, meanwhile, continues its race to the top, but the bond with one of its most beloved protagonists of the Scudetto now seems irremediably broken.
Article published on 14 January 2025 - 20:57
