Napoli chief sends 19-word message to Newcastle United over Khvicha Kvaratskhelia interest

Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli says there is “no chance” Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will leave during the January transfer window.

Reports emerged last week of Newcastle United’s interest in the Georgia international, who has scored eight goals and provided 10 assists since moving to Italy in the summer from Dinamo Batumi.

The Naples club paid £10million for the 21-year-old and could easily make a quick - and sizeable - profit next month with a number of European clubs said to be tracking his progress.

Newcastle are among those to be credited with interest having sent scouts to watch the forward prior to the Qatar World Cup, according to The Times.

Indeed, the speculation surrounding United and Kvaratskhelia was put to Napoli’s sporting director, who made his stance clear in just 19 words.

He told Sport Express (via Sport Witness): “Newcastle interest in Khvicha? There is no chance that we’ll let him go, despite the amount of the offer.”

Who is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia?

The Georgian began his career at Dinamo Tbilisi. He then joined Rustavi, which included a loan spell at Lokomotiv Moscow, before earning a move to Russian side Rubin Kazan.

After Russia invaded Ukraine - prompting FIFA to take action against Russian clubs - Kvaratskhelia terminated his contract with Kazan and briefly moved to Dinamo Batumi in March this year before Napoli came calling.

Kvaratskhelia is already a cult hero in Naples, earning the nickname ‘Kvaradona’ in reference to club legend Diego Maradona.

Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have been mentioned as clubs who are tracking Kvaratskhelia’s progress.