‘NOT for sale’ - Transfer saga turns ugly for £80m Newcastle United target as Serie A giants release damning statement

Napoli have condemned Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s agent after he revealed plans to leave for a Champions League club.

Newcastle United are one of several Premier League clubs linked with the Georgian superstar in recent times. The speculation was most notable last summer following Napoli’s historic Serie A win.

Gli Azzurri won their first title for 30 years, with Kvaratskhelia scoring 14 goals across all competitions. Napoli endured a drop-off in 2023-24, finishing 10th and causing Rudy Garcia and Walter Mazzarri to lose their jobs.

Former Georgian international Mamuka Jugeli, Kvaratskhelia’s agent, told Sporti Imedze that his client plans on leaving after Euro 2024. He said: “We want to leave, but we are waiting for the end of the European Championship. With (Antonio) Conte, Napoli have big plans. I'm sure they will qualify for the Champions League again next season and fight for the Scudetto. 

“But that doesn't mean that Kvaratskhelia wants to stay there, I don't mean it. I didn't talk with Khvicha about this issue, the most important thing for him is the national team. Our goal is the team that plays in the Champions League. The worst thing is that, if he stays here, Khvicha will lose one year (of his career) because of that. We are worried.”

Those damning comments have been met with a fierce rebuttal from Napoli. A strong club statement slammed Kvaratskhelia’s agent - insisting he is not for sale.

“After Kvaratskhelia’s camp statement, we want to remind him that he’s under contract until June 2027,” the announcement read. “Kvaratskelia is NOT for sale. Player’s agents do NOT decide where they are going, but it’s Napoli deciding when they are under contract.”