Khvicha Kvaratskhelia showed Liverpool just who he is with Cristiano Ronaldo move

Long-rumored Liverpool target Khvicha Kvaratskhelia served a reminder to Anfield recruitment chiefs with a masterclass performance at Euro 2024 - which even seemed to earn him the respect of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Napoli winger has emerged as one of Serie A's leading talents in his position in the past couple of seasons after making the move to Italy back in 2022. Winning the Scudetto in his first season in Naples, the 23-year-old has continued his sterling rise at international level too with heroic displays for Georgia.

His latest came in a stunning 2-0 victory over Portugal in his country's final Group F game as he provided the opening goal en route to the win. Scoring in the second minute of proceedings, his strike was a typical left-footed drive which left opposition goalkeeper Diogo Costa rooted to the spot.

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Georges Mikautadze eventually put the result beyond doubt as Georgia saw the game out in Gelsenkirchen to earn the nation a place in the knockout rounds. The win sparked rapturous celebrations from stars including Kvaratskhelia, with the Georgian players and staff rejoicing at full-time.

After excitedly leaping into the air alongside his compatriots, the Napoli superstar then took the time to walk over to Ronaldo to console the Portuguese veteran, who was watching on from the sidelines. Despite being substituted during the game, the former Manchester United forward even swapped shirts with Kvaratskhelia after the game.

This show of respect between the two players demonstrated the standing the speculated Reds target is held in among his peers. It has been suggested by Caught Offside that Liverpool's transfer chiefs have contacted Napoli to enquire about the ace's availability this summer - but the winger remains focused on his commitments with Georgia for now.

Still, his performances at the tournament so far will have done his reputation no harm whatsoever on Merseyside as rumors continue to swirl over his future at club level. Reflecting on his interaction with Ronaldo, Kvaratskhelia said: "Before the match he wished me success. I would never imagine he would come and talk to me.

"He's a great player and a great person. That's why he's a great personality in and out of football. I have so much respect for him, he's one of the best players in the world. When he comes to talk to you before the match, that's amazing. That helped us believe we could do something today."

The Georgian will be well-known to many Reds supporters, having been perennially linked with a move to Anfield in recent transfer windows. Addressing speculation that his client may be heading for the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona exit door in the coming months, the star's agent Mamuka Jugeli admitted on Georgian TV Sport Imedi: "I don't want people to think that Kvara wants to stay at Napoli.

"We want to leave, but we are waiting for the end of the Euros so as not to disturb Khvicha. The priority is to join a team that plays in the Champions League, while the player's father also added: "I don't want my son to stay at Napoli. They changed three coaches last season, and it's hard to play in a similar situation."

In response, Napoli stated: "In reference to statements by Kvaratskhelia's agent, Mamuka Jugeli, and his father Badri, Calcio Napoli reiterates that the player has another three-year contract with the club. Kvaratskhelia is not on the market. It is not the agents or fathers who decide on the future of a player under contract with Napoli but the club! End of story."