Ajax is still charmed by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. A few months after the first reports about the Amsterdam club’s interest in the twenty-year-old left winger of Rubin Kazan, journalist Andro Kheladze assures in conversation with Italian media that the advances from the Netherlands are the most concrete. The Georgian international is also linked to AC Milan, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Leeds United, among others.
Kheladze describes Kvaratskhelia, often referred to only by his first name in Russian media, as ‘Russia’s best dribbler’. He has also been named Talent of the Year. He is fantastic in one-on-one situations, has a good shot and prepares many other goals. His best position is on the left side of the attack, but he can also play on the right. He has an X factor: he can create something from scratch.”
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Earlier this year, Voetbalzone wrote an extensive analysis of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
“The name of Borussia Monchengladbach has fallen, but Leeds United and especially Marcelo Bielsa were interested in his arrival. Then came the interest from Ajax, which is now the most concrete”, assures Kheladze. “They are the closest to his arrival, even though things can change quickly.” However, Rubin Kazan has not heard anything yet. “The asking price is between fifteen and twenty million euros. To date, as far as I know, Rubin Kazan has not received any official offers.”
Russian media assured in April that director of football affairs Marc Overmars and agent Mamuka Jugeli would meet. Kheladze does not rule out Khvicha remaining in Russia for another season. “If I have to name a name, I say Ajax. AC Milan, for example, already has Rafael Leao and Ante Rebic in his position.” The journalist sees more and more football players from former Soviet countries succeed in the Serie A. “Ruslan Malinovskyi, Eldor Shomurodov and Henrik Mkhitaryan, just to name a few.” However, he also sees a major obstacle. “Georgia is not part of the European Union and Serie A has a limit for non-EU players.”
With a contract until mid-2024, Rubin Kazan is in no rush to sell Khvicha, although it will be difficult to keep the Georgian out of the hands of the European elite. The technician grew up at Dinamo Tbilisi and made his debut there in the main force at the age of sixteen. However, after his debut season he decided to take a step back for a better chance of playing time and ended up at rival FC Rustavi, where he played only six games. Nevertheless, in 2018 he was The Guardian put it on a list of the 60 most promising talents in the world with the comment that Georgia hasn’t seen a talent as great as him in a long time.
“He is technically gifted, strong, fast, two-legged and completely unpredictable in his actions. If we have to compare him to anyone, the names Julian Draxler and Leroy Sané immediately come up.” Lokomotiv Moscow was eager to take over Khvicha on a rental basis and thought they could finally sign him after a promising debut season in the Russian Premjer League, but was trumped by Rubin Kazan, who managed to take him over from Rustavi on a free transfer.
The quick left winger impresses with his many dribbles and is sometimes even affectionately referred to as ‘the Georgian Messi’. Khvicha played eight A-international matches and was good for three hits.