Kvicha Kvaratskhelia has admitted he feels the weight of responsibility on his shoulders at Napoli, but welcomes the pressure and insists he ‘can handle it’ after a mesmerising season in Campania.
Dubbed ‘Kvaradona’ for his tantalising ability with the ball at his feet, the Georgian was originally dumbfounded at the comparisons to the late Diego Maradona, but has since got used to the praise from Napoli fans.
“Maradona in Naples is treated like a king,” he said. “And for me at the beginning it seemed unthinkable to see my name put alongside his.
“There is a real Maradona cult here , I thought I was living a dream when I heard the comparison, now I’m slowly getting used to it and for me to be compared to a footballer of his greatness is wonderful.
“When I was a kid it was hard for me to imagine becoming a professional footballer, it was a huge challenge to work your way up from a very small country. My ambition has helped me believe in my dreams and build my career.
“Naples thrives on football, and the Italian league is one of the best in the world and I’m grateful for that. There’s great pace and speed, the players here have great technique and excel in both phases of the game. I think I quickly adapted to this style of play.
“In Naples I feel a lot of pressure and responsibility, sometimes there’s too much weight on my shoulders, but I can handle it. When I go on the pitch it’s eleven against eleven and all the pressure vanishes. I do what I love, I play football.”