Napoli remain top but will Kvaratskhelia cast shadow over Serie A bid? | Nicky Bandini
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The most shocking element might be how undaunted Napoli, and Naples, appear over the future of ‘Kvaradona’. Antonio Conte is not angry, just disappointed, but before you accuse him of the oldest trick in the parenting book give the man time to finish his thought. On Saturday he confirmed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia wants to leave Napoli, expressing frustration that six months of working together had not persuaded the Georgia international that they could achieve great things together.
![[Antonio Conte during Napoli’s win over Verona]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/60ad49d4256a7b376cfceaedfafd2d94b692b3f4/0_249_2731_1638/master/2731.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
A day later, though, he provided a subtle reframing. “I want to underline something,” said Conte at his press conference following a 2-0 win over Verona. “When I spoke about disappointment, I was not speaking about disappointment felt toward a player or toward the club but in myself. I thought I could cut through and influence this situation … maybe I was a little bit presumptuous.”.
![[Scott McTominay in acrobatic action against Verona]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/faac464ada7ad4fa4c863aaf0151f54aa40c4880/0_0_4252_2835/master/4252.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
After winning league titles with three clubs across two countries, Conte can feel entitled to his self-belief. He has reminded us again this season at Napoli of his extraordinary capacity to bend a situation to his will, lifting a team that finished 10th last season back to the top of the Serie A table. Sunday’s victory was another little landmark to remind us of how quickly he has turned this club around. Napoli began this season with a 3-0 loss away to Verona, an inauspicious start even before we remember Kvaratskhelia left that game with an injury before half-time.
The winger’s presence had helped lure Conte to Napoli in the first place – a guarantee of continuity even as the other star of the 2022-23 title-winning side, Victor Osimhen, was expected to depart. “I’ve heard some confusion on this subject, but there is none,” said Conte upon taking his position in June. “Kvaratskhelia is staying. I have been categorical on this point.”.
