Kvicha Kvaratskhelia has gone viral for his remarkable solo goal against Atalanta, earning comparisons with Napoli legend Diego Armando Maradona and Italy hero Roberto Baggio.
The Georgia international broke the deadlock in what would become a 2-0 victory when he took on the entire defence single-handed, twisting and turning to eventually blast into the roof of the net.
Careful analysis of the goal shows that Rafael Toloi ended up doing the splits as the tried to keep up with the whirlwind of movement, while the others were left chasing shadows and even goalkeeper Juan Musso was sent the wrong way with the finish, expecting it to be at the far post.
“It was a goal worthy of Maradona, and that is not something I say lightly,” commented Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti in his press conference.
“He has this ability to twist the ball inside out and then get the shot away so quickly. When he looks you in the eye and takes you on, he becomes devastating. This time yes, we can invoke the name of the greatest the world has ever seen.”
It is no wonder that Napoli fans have nicknamed him Kvaradona after the icon who gave his name to this stadium.
Others who watched the goal online compared his technique to Zinedine Zidane or George Best, noting “it’s one against eight, but the one is not like the others.”
He even received praise from the man he had described as his hero, Guti.
The reason Kvaratskhelia is so very dangerous when taking men on is that he is two-footed, so the defender never knows if he will turn onto his right or left foot.
It makes him unpredictable and, as he showed perfectly with this goal, able to dribble with a series of feints.
Any chance of a swap for Leao in the summer?