What if Nice had snatched Kvaratskhelia before anyone else? The forgotten bombshell of the 2021 transfer window. Before shining at Napoli and now at PSG, the Georgian could have played on the Côte d’Azur.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is currently causing a stir at the Parc des Princes… but he could have ignited the Allianz Riviera long before. According to L’Équipe, OGC Nice was very close to signing the Georgian genius as early as the winter of 2021, when he was excelling at Rubin Kazan. Yes, indeed: Kvaradona could have worn the Nice jersey three years before landing at PSG for a massive transfer.
At the time, Julien Fournier, then sporting director of the club, was impressed by his profile. “An intelligent player, exceptional in understanding the game,” he notes. Nice was looking for a creative dribbler, a player who could eliminate defenders, and stumbled upon a raw diamond. The club was interested, the player was keen… but the deal was set to fall apart.
Transfer aborted: outrageous commissions, disastrous timing
Nice made an approach but hit a wall. Kvara’s agent was not affiliated with the FFF, a necessary condition to finalize a signing in France, and demanded an unreasonable percentage. The result: discussions froze, the deal became impossible.
The situation became even more complicated when Kvaratskhelia broke his contract in Russia in March 2022, a few weeks after the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine. The Georgian returned to his home country. Nice could have made another attempt… but the club was experiencing internal chaos: an audit by Ineos, reorganization, endless delays.
While the Gym was dragging its feet, Napoli moved quickly. Fast, efficient, irresistible. The rest is history: Serie A, the explosion, the status of a global star… then PSG, which eventually secured the deal in 2025.
Nice can only regret
Kvaratskhelia in Paris today is a nightmare for defenses. But in Nice, one question lingers: what if the Aiglons had been quicker? Would the Gym have had its own superstar? Its historic transfer? Its global gem?
Football does not forgive: sometimes, everything hinges on a few phone calls. And this time, Nice missed out on a true phenomenon.
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