The prevalent view of this season`s revitalized Paris Saint-Germain squad often suggests a team perhaps lacking top-tier attacking superstars. While Ousmane Dembele`s presence already casts doubt on this idea, the addition of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia definitively challenges that convenient narrative. The Georgian player might not possess the global fame of past major signings, but purely in terms of quality, he is entirely deserving of following in the footsteps of names like Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe.
He could even prove more significant than those predecessors, particularly if he helps secure the much-desired Champions League trophy. This outcome seems highly plausible following their 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Tuesday. If PSG finally achieves their ultimate goal, there will be a compelling argument that Kvaratskhelia has been the most immediately impactful January transfer in football history. Players like Virgil van Dijk and Nemanja Vidic went on to win major honors eventually. Luis Suarez and Bruno Fernandes quickly set their respective leagues alight. Yet, arguably none had such a profound and immediate effect on a team`s capability to win at the highest level.
Considering the talent already present, spearheaded by Dembele and PSG`s strong midfield, one might wonder hypothetically if Luis Enrique`s team could have reached European champion status without their $90 million January acquisition. This remains an unknown. What is certain, however, is that integrating Kvaratskhelia has dramatically elevated both the baseline performance level and the ultimate potential ceiling for the French champions.
His impact was vividly clear on Tuesday night. Throughout the season, Arsenal`s right flank has often appeared like an impenetrable defensive wall. The world`s top wingers – including not just Vinicius Junior, but also Savinho, Luis Diaz, and even Kvaratskhelia`s own PSG teammates back in October – have struggled to find joy against Jurrien Timber. Mikel Arteta may instruct his wide players to track back, but his fundamental expectation, indeed demand, is that his fullbacks win their individual duels. This strategy almost always succeeds, but no one has exposed Timber quite like Kvaratskhelia did.
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In just over 10 minutes, the situation escalated from Arsenal hurriedly trying to assist Timber as Kvaratskhelia set up Dembele for the opener, to having to commit three players to the right flank just to test the unpredictable Georgian. The outcome? A jinking run past two defenders, a desperate arm from the right back, and what should arguably have been a penalty for PSG.
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Kvaratskhelia`s subsequent success in the match was less pronounced, though his threat never truly faded. With 80 minutes gone, a combined effort from Timber and Bukayo Saka was still insufficient to prevent him from cutting onto his right foot and unleashing a shot towards goal. Arsenal were fortunate that, in that instance, Kvaratskhelia`s technique momentarily failed him. Planning on that happening frequently at the Parc des Princes would be unwise for Arsenal.
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His performance was a near demolition, the kind that has become commonplace since he transitioned to Europe`s major leagues from Batumi in the summer of 2022. When their new number 77 arrived, Napoli`s most optimistic scenario seemed to be a season focused on securing Champions League qualification and perhaps challenging the Serie A giants until the season`s final weeks. Instead, he unlocked entirely new possibilities for the Partenopei, a club that had spent many years pursuing the echoes of its late 1990s golden era. Within just a few matches, his name was being whispered with reverence in Italian football circles. Months later, they were chanting it from the rooftops.
There`s a reason he was dubbed `Kvaradona` long before he ended Napoli`s long wait for their third Scudetto. (As a side note: without adopting a Sam Allardyce-like stance, one might ponder if Kvaratskhelia would have received more Ballon d`Or votes in 2023, when Yassine Bounou and Emiliano Martinez outpolled arguably the best player in Italy by a significant margin, had he hailed from a more traditionally dominant footballing nation?)
Much like Diego Maradona, this is a player who electrifies fans every time the ball reaches his feet. His incisive dribbles often culminate in breathtaking final actions – whether it`s the thunderous shot into the roof of Emi Martinez`s net in the Champions League quarterfinal or the exquisite chip over the Bologna defense to set up Giovanni Di Lorenzo in the closing stages of his time in southern Italy.
Kvaratskhelia has already captured the affection of one of Europe`s most passionate fanbases and appears well on his way to winning over another crowd. Within weeks, Parisians were echoing the `Kvara` chants. By embracing him so warmly, they have eased what could otherwise have been a challenging mid-season transition for such a distinct talent.
“The fact that they welcomed me into the family so quickly and that I felt really happy and comfortable really helped me find my place on the pitch, and I`m doing my best to make the most of it,” Kvaratskhelia stated. “From the very first moment, I felt strong support from the fans. Then, when I stepped onto the pitch, I felt both happy and like a great footballer.”
And a great footballer he is. While on the ball, Kvaratskhelia might evoke the image of the dazzling dribbler believed to be a relic of the past, his work without the ball speaks volumes about the future of modern wingers. This is what distinguishes him from players like Neymar and the later version of Messi who were afforded freedoms at the old PSG. On Tuesday night, he recorded five tackles, led his team in interceptions and recoveries, and was even seen deep in defense, clearing dangerous balls delivered into the box by Arsenal.
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It was difficult to shake the feeling that if Arsenal, long known to be seeking a new left winger, had made the significant move for Kvaratskhelia this winter, it might have been them looking like tournament favorites at the semifinal stage. They never got close to a deal once Napoli decided it was time to part with their star player; the groundwork PSG had laid during the summer came to fruition rapidly in the middle of the January transfer window.
That $90 million is proving to be exceptionally well spent. PSG paid for a superstar, acquired a superstar, and may soon discover that they have finally won the trophy expected of a super team. Without Kvaratskhelia, that accomplishment might never have materialized.
