Conte confirms Kvaratskhelia has asked to be sold: ‘It’s a great disappointment’ | OneFootball

Napoli head coach Antonio Conte has confirmed that star forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has requested to be sold, following reports that he will sit out of the upcoming Serie A match against Hellas Verona while transfer talks with Paris Saint-Germain continue.

‘It’s a great disappointment’, the Partenopei coach said during his pre-match press conference on Saturday.

Kvaratskhelia’s representatives are understood to be in negotiations with PSG over a move as early as January. The two clubs have been discussing a fee in the region of €70m according to reports on Saturday morning.

PSG reportedly offered to include either Milan Skriniar or Marco Asensio in a player-plus cash deal, but Napoli are only interested in the transfer fee itself.

Kvaratskhelia’s future was the first topic on the agenda at Conte’s pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s game against Hellas Verona.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia celebrates Napoli-Monza (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“I have never hidden away from uncomfortable questions. If I speak, I’ll tell the truth, otherwise I prefer to stay quiet, I don’t tell lies,” the Partenopei coach began.

“We are talking about an important player,” he continued. “A player who was already due to leave in the summer. I also wanted to have technical certainties. Quality is needed in addition to the work I demanded, as well as the confirmation of certain players, including Khvicha, who, as you know, had asked to be sold in the summer. And he wasn’t the only one.

“We are moving forwards, but it is easy to forget the work I had to do to convince the players, who I considered essential, to stay. Many wanted to take other paths.”

Conte: Kvaratskhelia ‘asked the club to be sold’

“He asked the club to be sold, without mincing his words. This is what was said to me, the player has confirmed his decision to me,” Conte continued.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of SSC Napoli shows his disappointment during the Serie A TIM match between SSC Napoli and AC Monza at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 29, 2023 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“Personally I feel very disappointed, because I spent six months trying to make Kvara feel at the centre of the project, working with him, showing him that we could do something great and also working with the club for six months on the renewal.

“From my point of view, it’s a great disappointment.

“Today I have to take a step back. I can’t keep those who want to leave tied up in chains. I did that in the summer and had six months to convince all the parties to find a solution.

“I realise that the news has come out of the blue, but now I am taking a step back and it’s right that the club and Kvara’s entourage resolve the situation.

“And so, he is not available for Verona. We will see what happens. We will lose an important player, but for the meantime, let’s focus on Verona.”