Paolo Di Canio describes Napoli star Kvicha Kvaratskhelia in terms of combining some of the best characteristics of George Best and Cristiano Ronaldo, ‘but with a modern approach.’
The Georgia international was a sensation in his debut Serie A season and helped them secure their first Scudetto since 1990.
He has so far scored 12 goals and provided 12 assists in 29 Serie A appearances, adding another two strikes and four assists in nine Champions League matches.
“Kvaratskhelia is the combination of two extraordinary players, in my view,” Di Canio said on Sky Sport Italia.
“One from the past is George Best, the sheer art of dribbling, but of course with a modern approach. George Best was more sinuous, he had the ability to weave the ball between players with continual changes of direction.
“Kvara does it in a modern way with a determination and power that Best did not have.
“The second talent is that of Cristiano Ronaldo. He is not just satisfied by dribbling against one, two or three opponents. When he emerges from that dribbling, he still has the power and determination to then shoot and smash the net. And he often does.”
Although it did not count as an assist, Kvaratskhelia effectively created the goal that won the Scudetto in the 1-1 draw with Udinese last night.
His ferocious shot from the edge of the box was beaten away by Marco Silvestri, into the path of Victor Osimhen to score on the rebound.
The 22-year-old was snapped up from Georgian club Dinamo Batumi in the summer for just over €10m plus add-ons and signed a contract to June 2027.