Rubin Kazan has one of the gems of the Russian Premier League on its hands in Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The Tbilisi, Georgia, native moved to Kazan in 2019 after a loan spell with Lokomotiv Moscow. Two years on, those in decision-making positions at the capital club may be kicking themselves for not making that loan permanent. Kvaratskhelia has scored eight goals and assisted 13 in 53 appearances for Rubin Kazan and, still just 20 years old, has found himself linked with several clubs across Europe, most recently AC Milan.
According to Transfermarkt, Kvaratskhelia is the fourth-most valuable player in the Russian league behind Nikola Vlasic, Sardar Azmoun and ex-Barcelona winger Malcom. He showed a flash of his potential brilliance in Rubin Kazan's 3-0 win over Arsenal Tula on Friday, scoring a world-class goal to put the result beyond doubt.
First goal of the season for Khvicha is a peach. pic.twitter.com/dI3SEyyWWG
— David Sansun (@RFN_David) July 30, 2021
Despite playing just under 1,800 minutes last season due to injury and a spell on the sidelines with coronavirus, Kvaratskhelia was still named the league's Young Player of the Season after scoring four goals and assisting eight more. On Friday's evidence, it's not hard to see why some of Europe's elite are courting the young Georgian. Kvaratskhelia will be one to keep an eye on as what could prove to be a breakout campaign gets underway.
