Neither Cristiano nor Zidane, Kvaratskhelia’s Real Madrid idol: “I had a shirt where I wrote his name with a marker and played in it”

Few forwards have been as decisive as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the past two editions of the Champions League. The winger is enjoying a rich vein of form and, this Wednesday in Munich, will attempt to guide Paris Saint-Germain to a second consecutive Champions League final. Compared to Maradona for his technique and aura during his time in Naples, the Georgian star’s idol has a past tied to Real Madrid.

Who is Kvaratskhelia’s Real Madrid idol?

And it is not Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, or Karim Benzema. It is Guti. As he revealed in a recent interview with DAZN, the former Spanish international midfielder was one of Kvaratskhelia’s heroes to such an extent that he used to play wearing a shirt with Guti’s name written on it in marker.

“When I was a child, I loved Guti. You know, I watched his games and really liked the way he thought about football, the passes he made… so he was my idol. I even had a shirt where I wrote ‘Guti’ myself with a marker and played in it. So yes, he was my idol and I respect him a lot,” Kvaratskhelia said.

A shared admiration that turned into contact later in his career, as Guti himself revealed that the two have exchanged messages and even swapped shirts.

“We’ve had some great moments – I gave him one of my shirts, and he gave me one of his from PSG, which I have at home. We’ve spoken on Instagram and I’m very happy with the progress he’s making. There was talk about him possibly going to Madrid or Barcelona. I think he’s a fantastic player, very decisive with goals, and when he feels comfortable like he does at PSG, he’s a top player,” he explained.

The class and technique of Kvaratskhelia at times echo those of Guti, who during his spell at Real Madrid became one of the most gifted midfielders in the world. Now, the PSG winger, through goals and assists, has established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific attacking players and aims to deliver a second Champions League title to the Parisian side – a triumph that would elevate him to an entirely new level.

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