When freedom meets passion: Kvaratskhelia on his seamless fit with Napoli | OneFootball

At only 22 years old, Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has taken the football world by storm, propelling the Serie A side towards their first title in 33 years.

In an interview with the New York Times, the Georgian opened up on how he is determined and more than grateful to live up to the lofty expectations in Italy after being scouted for by the club for two years.

“Ever since I arrived, it has felt like being in a dream,” he said. But remaining humble and doing his absolute best to consistently perform remains his primary focus.

“But at some point, early on, I had to collect myself, remind myself that it was not a dream, that it was reality, and I had to find the strength in myself to live through it.

“I tend to default to gratitude,” Kvaratskhelia continued. “I am grateful for every piece of love and affection people show me. I know it is praise, but it is also motivation and inspiration. It is a huge responsibility.

“I have to prove every game that I can do as I have promised.”

With 13 goals and 15 assists in 28 games, Kvaratskhelia is one of the most productive wingers in Europe. According to him, the key to his individual success is that Napoli’s style seamlessly fits his own.

The Diego Armando Maradona Stadium evolves into the playing field of his wildest dreams as imagination drives his game.

“That freedom is my signature,” he said. “It is something I recognise in myself. It is because I love what I do. When I am playing, it kind of carries me away.

“You play with your heart, with passion, but you also play with your conscious brain. It is more a conscious thing than anything else, based on what you have learned in training, on the mistakes you have made previously, on the options that are there.”

“The way I play is both heart and conscious thought,” he continued. “But if you don’t use your brain, you would never improve.”

Additionally, he is overjoyed to learn from manager Luciano Spalletti, who emphasised “the importance of team spirit” when signing him earlier this season from Russian club Rubin Kazan.

“Italian coaches are famous,” he said. “They know how to make players perform.”

But looking ahead, Kvaratskhelia could be learning from a different manager in the near future as other clubs circle for his signature.

Napoli will surely hope that isn’t the case.