Future Ballon d’Or winner tipped to snub Premier League transfer because ‘it would break him’

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia may be a Ballon d’Or contender, but conquering the Premier League could be a step too far.

The Paris Saint-Germain superstar did his chances of winning football’s top individual gong no harm with a superb performance against Aston Villa in the Super Cup.

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Kvaratskhelia scored the opener with a simply sublime piece of individual brilliance as he received the ball, opened up space and unleashed a shot in what felt like a split second.

The 25-year-old’s goal was the highlight of his night in Salzburg as Villa’s right flank struggled to contain him.

Kvaratskhelia’s dazzling Super Cup display was very much a case of him picking up from where he left off last season, especially in European competition.

The Georgia international registered an absurd 17 goal contributions in 16 Champions League games last term, including an assist in the final against Arsenal.

Kvaratskhelia’s stats ensured he was named the 2025/26 Champions League Player of the Season for the first time in his career.

Despite Kvaratskhelia’s brilliance in Europe’s premier club competition, European football expert Andy Brassell is not so sure the 25-year-old could handle the physical rigours of an English top flight campaign.

Andy Brassell’s verdict on Kvicha Kvaratskhelia playing in the Premier League

Speaking on talkSPORT’s Trans Euro Express, Brassell pointed out how few other clubs would roll out the red carpet for Kvaratskhelia quite like PSG has, especially when it comes to his workload.

“Despite the fact they don’t pay the wages they did in the ages of Neymar and (Lionel) Messi, they will throw everything they’ve got at him,” Brassell said.

“And PSG don’t let players go that they don’t want to let go.

“I don’t see it reaching a point where Kvaratskhelia runs down his contract or anything like that.

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“On a sporting level, they’re providing him almost anything he wants, really. They’re allowing him to compete and win the Champions League, to get enough rest that he’s able to perform in this biggest games at his very top level.

“If you look at everything he does on and off the ball, in one way, he’d be perfect for the Premier League.

“And in another way, it would totally break him. He does so much, he can’t do that for 60 games a season. He just can’t.”

What does Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s PSG workload look like?

Kvaratskhelia made 48 appearances across all competitions for PSG last term, with 16 of those coming via the Champions League and 14 being starts.

In Ligue 1 competition, the 25-year-old featured 28 times but started only 18 of those and was an unused substitute in three games.

It paints a picture of PSG knowing when to unleash their crown jewel and when to give him a breather, a situation few Premier League clubs can offer.

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For example, Declan Rice made 55 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal last season, 49 of which were starts.

Morgan Rogers was another who endured an almighty workload, starting 51 times for Aston Villa last term before joining Chelsea for an eye-watering £117million.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s Ballon d’Or chances

Even if Kvaratskhelia does not test himself in the Premier League, especially if it helps prolong his playing career, Brassell does not believe it will hinder his Ballon d’Or candidacy.

“If not the best in the world, really close,” Brassell said.

“I think to have that amount of ability on the ball, to bring it to bear usefully for the team and to do as much as he does without the ball, what more could you want from a football player?

“He’s got it all, and he’s still only 25.

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“In terms of the Ballon d’Or, there’s a chance because none of the players who could have made it theirs did.

“If Argentina win the World Cup final, Messi wins it. If England win it, then either (Harry) Kane or maybe (Jude) Bellingham win it. If France win it, then Mbappe’s got a case, and maybe a little side chance of Michael Olise. But none of those things came to pass.

“So I just go back to the Champions League, and who was the best player in the Champions League last season?”