Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the 25-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and Georgia forward, spoke to the BBC in an interview broadcast recently. It was an opportunity to discuss the significance of the PSG move in his career and the impact of coach Luis Enrique.
Kvaratskhelia: “Don’t even talk to other clubs.”
Signing for Paris?
“Joining PSG marked a new step, because PSG is one of the biggest clubs in football history. I was extremely proud to come here. Of course, I had other offers, but when I spoke with the president and Luis Enrique, I didn’t hesitate for a second. When they presented the project and their vision for me, I told my agent and my father: don’t even talk to other clubs. I’m going there. I knew I could succeed in this team.
Kvaratskhelia “With everything I’ve learned, I could almost be a coach today!”
What does Luis Enrique bring to your game?
“I think I’ve learned a huge amount. Mentally and physically, I’ve made great progress, and my understanding of football has grown significantly. With everything I’ve learned, I could almost be a coach today! Working with him means learning something new every day. Mentally, physically, and psychologically, he transforms you. He’s constantly teaching you so that you’re always ready. If you have just one minute to play, you have to be ready.” “With this coach, you simply have to listen to what he tells you, follow his instructions, and give 100% on the pitch.”
It is certainly gratifying to see a player so determined to join PSG—especially since we can be sure this isn’t just empty talk to please the fans. Kvaratskhelia’s agent had quickly confirmed PSG’s interest and the player’s desire to sign for the Parisian club. However, Napoli played hardball in negotiations, requiring patience. From the summer transfer window through the winter, there was never any doubt about the Georgian’s intentions.
He made the right choice, as he has clearly taken his career to the next level—a fact evident to everyone, not least through the trophies he has won. While his technical ability was always apparent, he now seems to have matured in his team play, showing consistent defensive effort and better decision-making in attack. Luis Enrique has played a part in this, and the forward’s appreciation is clear. Now, we can only hope the story continues to unfold beautifully. There is every reason to think it will, given that a contract extension has been discussed in recent weeks.
