According to his coach Luciano Spalletti, Khvich Kvaratskhelia is “on the right track” to earn a hero status at Napoli similar to that enjoyed by the “god of football” Diego Maradona.
Kvaratskhelia has shone throughout the campaign, in which Napoli appear to be destined to end a 33-year wait for a Scudetto win.
The Georgian scored his 11th league goal of the season as Napoli beat Atalanta 2-0 on Saturday, leaving defenders behind before firing on target as Spalletti’s men pulled 18 points clear at the Serie A summit.
As Napoli’s first title win since Maradona approaches, Spalletti believes the comparison between Kvaratskhelia and the inspirational Argentine makes sense.
“This win was the best. The turnaround in terms of our results with this quality of play was the best,” Spalletti told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli on Monday.
“The team played a great game against such a strong opponent as Atalanta. Physically they are the strongest team of all in Serie A, but also in terms of running in open spaces.
“We moved the ball faster, with fewer touches, but with quality, to be able to hit them with pace and speed.
“Then there was the material that Kvaratskhelia showed us … This time we can say that it was a goal, like Maradona.
We have a dream…
#ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/WsOLg1VyVh
— Official SSC Naples (@en_sscnapoli) March 11, 2023
“The god of football was the god of football, but Kwara is on the right track. He’s got touch speed, you never know where he might go.”
Kvaratskhelia has scored 20 goals (11 goals, 9 assists) and is second only to teammate Victor Osimkhen (19 goals, 4 assists) in Serie A this season. the last result is better only for Rafael Leao, who scored 44.
Napoli will host Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday, defending a 2-0 lead in their quest to finish in the top eight.