The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) made headlines in January 2025 by pulling off one of the most talked-about mid-season transfers in football history. Shelling out €70 million for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Napoli, the club transformed its squad dynamics almost overnight. While the Parisians celebrated, Napoli’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis still struggles to come to terms with the loss.
Under Luis Enrique’s leadership, PSG had already claimed the UEFA Champions League title the season before Kvaratskhelia’s arrival. However, the Georgian forward’s impact this campaign has been even more pronounced. His electrifying performances have solidified his status as the team’s standout performer in the competition, leaving rival clubs—and especially Napoli—wishing they could turn back time.
The Napoli president’s bitterness over the lost talent
Aurelio De Laurentiis has not minced words when expressing his frustration. In a recent interview, he reflected on Kvaratskhelia’s meteoric rise in Naples, comparing the move to a modern-day Odyssey. “After just one year in Naples, Kvara became a star, but he chose to leave without honoring his contractual obligations—thanks to poor management by his agents and family,” he remarked. His tone shifted to nostalgia as he added, “Maradona was one of a kind, irreplaceable, and a true lover of the city. He wasn’t just a footballer; he was a treasure worth a billion carats.”
“Naples sang like a siren, but Kvara resisted its call”
De Laurentiis went on to paint a poetic picture of his city’s allure, framing Kvaratskhelia’s decision to leave as an act of defiance against temptation. “Naples is a city that has endured for 2,500 years, born as Parthenope—a name that evokes the mythical sirens of ancient Greece,” he explained. “In the end, Kvara plugged his ears like Ulysses, blocking out the sirens’ song to resist Napoli’s offers of contract renewal.” The president’s vivid metaphor underscored his lingering disappointment over the lost opportunity to retain one of Europe’s most exciting talents.