Conte reveals Kvaratskhelia transfer request
Antonio Conte has revealed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has asked to leave Napoli, as Paris Saint-Germain works on a deal to sign the Georgia international.
The 23-year-old has continued to be linked with a big-money move and reports recently suggested he had agreed personal terms with Ligue 1 champion PSG.
Having left Kvaratskhelia out of Napoli's squad for this weekend's clash with Verona, Conte was asked about the Georgian's future.
"I will answer, I have never shied away from uncomfortable questions. If I speak, it is because I tell the truth, otherwise I prefer to remain silent. I don't like to tell lies," he said.
"We are talking about an important player. This summer, I demanded that some players be confirmed and among them was Khvicha.
"He had asked to be sold and he was not the only one. Then we moved on, but you forget things too easily.
"Six months ago, I had to convince the players I considered fundamental for this project to stay, but many wanted to take other paths."
Conte was not upbeat regarding Napoli's chances of replacing the Georgian, saying: "Honestly, I haven't seen profiles that can replace him.
"It's too fresh, a bolt from the blue. Today I am very focused on Verona.
"Today, the most important thing is not buying or selling, neither outgoings nor incomings, but tomorrow's match. It's three points.
"No evaluations have been made because Kvara is now a Napoli player. Then tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or on 31 January, we will see.
"It is inevitable that the situation will be monitored. It is right to leave it to the club, the player and his entourage. I did what I had to do. In fact, maybe I did too much."
Kvaratskhelia has been a revelation since arriving from Dinamo Batumi in 2022, helping Napoli win its first Scudetto since the Diego Maradona era in his first season in Italy.
The winger scored 12 goals and laid on 10 assists as the Partenopei ran away with the Serie A title in 2022-2023, but a miserable 2023-2024 campaign saw it go through three head coaches and finish 10th in the Italian top flight.
Kvaratskhelia has provided eight goal involvements in Serie A this term – five goals and three assists, and Napoli is back in title contention under Conte.
Only six players in the division have bettered his 28 chances created, while he has attempted the fourth-most dribbles in the competition (67).
Since his arrival in Serie A in 2022, Kvaratskhelia ranks fifth for goal involvements in the competition (47), second for chances created (145) and first for both dribbles attempted (482) and completed (196).
