Paris St-Germain believe that they not only beat Liverpool in the Champions League this season but also beat them to the signing of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

It was not just Liverpool who missed out on the exciting winger who, with his socks rolled down and his desire to run at defenders, is something of a thrilling throwback in modern-day football.

So spectacular was his impact at Napoli, where he helped the Italian club win their first league title since Diego Maradona led them 33 years ago, that he was dubbed ‘Kvaradona’. Given how Maradona is deified in Naples, that is some honour

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia breaks the deadlock 🤩

Kvaratskhelia sits down the Atalanta back line with a dazzling run and thumping finish to give Napoli the lead! pic.twitter.com/qM1jTO475R

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 11, 2023

At PSG, they describe Kvaratskhelia as “mercurial” – both on and off the pitch – because of his charismatic and slightly enigmatic personality. Such has been his artistry that they already have another nickname for him in Paris: “Kvaravaggio” while his potential was likened by former Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti to Mohamed Salah. Hence maybe Liverpool’s interest.

Kvaratskhelia is image-conscious and is keen to promote his status, which has surprised many in Italy who regarded him as somewhat timid. For example, he is actively making videos of himself at PSG. He has his own digital team and is innovative and progressive in wanting to build a brand – even though most people cannot pronounce his name. ‘Kvara’ will do.

That might feel alarming at a club where, in the past, image has appeared to be everything to some players. But Kvaratskhelia is not that.

The 24-year-old Georgian – the highest-profile player ever to emerge from the country, emulating the achievements of Georgi Kinkladze – now stands in the way of Arsenal in the Champions League semi-final as he has become a key part of PSG’s thrilling forward line.

Over time, Kvaratskhelia has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur (on at least two occasions and when he could have been signed for less than £17 million), Chelsea, Newcastle United and, going back, Brighton and Hove Albion.

But it was PSG who sealed the deal in January after holding their nerve last summer. They were finally losing Kylian Mbappé on a free transfer to Real Madrid and opened talks with Napoli, who wanted to sell both Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen to them as they were refusing to sign new contracts. The price quoted to PSG was a whopping €200 million (£170 million).

Eventually, and after considering a bid, they decided that was too much. Napoli then tried to renegotiate, offering just Kvaratskhelia. Still, they wanted €130 million (£111m) for him alone. Again, the price was too high and PSG walked away, as did other clubs.

In effect, though, PSG held their nerve and so when the January window came around Napoli were increasingly eager to sell. They had offered Kvaratskhelia to Liverpool and Chelsea and tried to do so once more but PSG, through sporting director Luís Campos, had quietly continued negotiating with the player’s agent Mamuka Jugeli and father Badri – a former striker and manager – and were firmly in pole position when the price came down to €70 million (£60m). PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi also had a good relationship with Napoli counterpart Aurelio De Laurentiis and the pair continued talking.

It helped that Napoli had handled the departure of Osimhen badly, with hopes of selling him lucratively to the Saudi Pro-League falling through after Al-Ahli bought Ivan Toney instead, with a deadline loan deal to Chelsea then collapsing before the Nigerian striker was hurriedly sent on loan to Turkish club Galatasaray.

Southgate compared him to Best

Napoli did not want a repeat with Kvaratskhelia, especially after he handed in a transfer request. Little wonder. Despite his feats, he was still on the same €1.5 million-a-year (£1.25m) five-season contract he had agreed when he first joined the Italian club in the summer of 2022.

What is so remarkable about Kvaratskhelia is that it has actually taken this long for him to be propelled to superstar status. Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate is a huge fan, having tracked Kvaratskhelia’s career for years, and once told Georgia’s English assistant manager David Webb that he was akin to a modern-day George Best.

Playing for Napoli hardly constitutes being in the backwaters but there is surprise that Kvaratskhelia did not move sooner – although it is known to be a hard club to leave, given the difficult negotiating tactics of De Laurentiis.

In fact, agents and scouts believe Kvaratskhelia, who speaks English, fell through the net because he emerged during Covid times and was from Georgia, with clubs suspicious of how players from that country would integrate. He had also played in Russia from the age of 17.

Unsurprisingly, the analysts at Brighton had flagged Kvaratskhelia’s potential as long ago as 2020 but the club instead decided to move for another winger, Kaoru Mitoma, the following year and it is not as if that signing has not worked out.

Reports and background checks were harder to gain, although Kvaratskhelia was hardly an unknown and had shone playing for his country, scoring in a World Cup qualifier against Spain and then twice in a win over Sweden. Later, he would lead Georgia to their first major tournament as they lit up last year’s European Championship.

Contract cancelled after Russian invasion

It all changed for Kvaratskhelia when the Russian invasion of Ukraine meant his contract with Rubin Kazan was suspended and he returned to Georgia on loan to Dinamo Batumi in March. Agents worked to land him a deal and despite Tottenham’s interest, having been offered him the summer before, Napoli moved quickly and agreed a transfer in April for the following season.

For a fee of just €13.3 million (£11.3m) Kvaratskhelia produced 12 goals and 13 assists in his first year in Serie A to help Napoli win the Scudetto [league title] and claim the award for the league’s most valuable player.

Kvaratskhelia’s exploits also brought him to Newcastle’s attention following the Saudi-led takeover of the club, but despite recommendations they decided against a move, believing it would be too expensive and risky.

PSG believe the amount of work they put in meant they, rather than Chelsea, who were also showing an interest, were always favourites to sign Kvaratskhelia. The deal has worked out spectacularly with the Georgian complementing a forward line that also includes Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola.

It is probably the most exciting attack in European football with Kvaratskhelia the most eye-catching of the four as much due to his appearance – he is physically larger, stockier, with tousled hair and a beard – as his dynamic style of play. He prefers to take on defenders and create chances rather than slavishly follow a system.

In Kvaratskhelia, PSG have acquired a unique talent at an absolute bargain.