Manchester City are monitoring Napoli No.77 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – a player Thierry Henry thinks very highly of.
That is according to 90min.
For those Manchester City fans who do not know much about Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as Txiki Begiristain monitors his progress, an interesting comparison to a household name has previously been made…
What’s the story?
Well, the Georgia international – who is valued at €100m (£87m) by the CIES Football Observatory – has actually been likened to Eden Hazard by Henry.
The Frenchman made the comment when speaking on BT Sport (now TNT Sports) after Napoli recorded a 5-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in last season’s UEFA Champions League campaign.
Henry said: “Kvaratskhelia is special. What I like about him is he is scared of nobody and he has strength. Have some of my leg, and vision, and he can do it. Dribbling, passing or an early pass.
“Very Eden Hazard like. He is brilliant. He can do anything. Press, dribble and assist. The balance, composure and vision. I think he reminds me of Eden… the way he balances it out. Play off that nine. Oh, the nine isn’t there? Then I go alone. I really like him.”
Kvaratskhelia remarkably scored 14 goals and provided 17 assists in 43 appearances last season following a €10m (£9m) move from Dinamo Batumi, firing Napoli to a first Serie A title in 33 years along the way.
The 22-year-old consequently finished 17th in the Ballon d’or rankings, ahead of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Antoine Griezmann.
Manchester City would be unstoppable with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Pep Guardiola has placed an emphasis on signing ball carrying experts recently, as seen in the captures of Jeremy Doku, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Josko Gvardiol.
Kvaratskhelia is another who excels at dribbling, and if Manchester City can field a side with the Georgian on one wing, as Doku lines up on the opposite flank, it would be the stuff of nightmares for defenders.
Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as Manchester City are only believed to be scouting the Napoli star at this point in time.
