Paris Saint-Germain Trio Interview Part 3: Dembele's Barcelona Dream and K77's 'Kvaradona' Nickname

On September 11 Beijing time, Paris Saint-Germain stars Ousmane Dembele, Fabian Ruiz and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia took part in an extensive interview. This is the third part of the interview.

Navigation for Parts One and Two of the interview

Full text of Part Three of the interview

Kvaratskhelia is a proud Georgian—the culture of his homeland is a crucial part of his identity, and his skills were developed on cage football pitches in Georgia.

As a leading football figure for his country and also a Paris Saint-Germain star, does he carry additional pressure?

Kvaratskhelia said: "It is an honor to be a role model for Georgian children, but of course it also brings pressure, because every time I step onto the pitch, I have to set an example—they watch every move I make. Coming from a small country and achieving success is itself an example. I want them to understand that anything is possible; as long as you have dreams, you can achieve them."

Speaking about his Georgian teammate, Dembele said: "He is an incredible player, one of the best wingers and players in the world. His performances last season were phenomenal, and he was very, very important for us. He has many nicknames; in the team we call him 'The Best' or 'Kvaradona'."

Which nickname does Kvaratskhelia like the most?

Kvaratskhelia replied with a smile: "I like 'Kvaradona' the most. Playing for Napoli was a huge source of pride for me. Being called that is both an honor and a pressure—being compared with one of the greatest figures in football history is not easy to handle. Nobody can be compared with Maradona, but I am happy to be called that."

Although he has been compared with a football legend, Kvaratskhelia's childhood idol was a less globally famous player: former Real Madrid midfielder Guti. "I liked the way he played," he said. "From then on, I became completely fascinated by him."

Beyond Kvaratskhelia's attacking qualities, Ruiz also praised his defensive performances.

He said: "He is a top player, especially in the opposition half, where he can easily break defensive lines, and his right-foot shot is powerful. His football intelligence is excellent, which helps us midfielders a lot—he knows where the space is, how to receive the ball at his feet, and when to play a long pass. As a winger, his contribution defensively is also outstanding, and that is one of his major strengths."

Regarding Dembele, Ruiz described him as a key player for Paris Saint-Germain.

When Dembele joined Paris Saint-Germain three years ago, he was determined to prove himself. Before that, his career at Barcelona had been affected by injuries. Barcelona had signed him for a base fee of 105 million euros (around 90 million pounds), with additional performance-related clauses worth up to 42 million euros (around 36 million pounds).

Despite the challenges of that period, Dembele remains grateful: "I was fortunate to achieve my childhood dream, play for Barcelona, and share the pitch with stars like Messi and Iniesta."

What truly sparked his breakthrough was his time in Paris, especially in the December 2024 match against Lyon, when Enrique's tactical adjustment moved him into a false-nine role. The change completely revitalized his career, and Dembele scored 27 goals in just 22 matches afterward.

Since then, his form has continued to improve.

Ruiz explained: "This is also why he won the Ballon d'Or last year—his ability is far beyond other players. He is equally capable with both feet, has incredible speed, and a high scoring efficiency. Defensively, he has also helped us a lot, which is very important for us midfielders."

"I also want to talk about the side of his personality that people do not often see, which only teammates who spend every day with him can understand. He is a great person, he motivates you to become better, actively helps you, and brings joy to the dressing room. I have to emphasize this point."

When asked which skill he wanted to learn from Dembele, Kvaratskhelia immediately answered: "His ability to use both feet equally well, and the way he accelerates with the ball. Before coming to Paris, I had never seen a player like this. His talent is on another level."

Since the start of the 2024-25 season, Dembele has recorded 79 non-penalty shots with his left foot and 59 with his right foot in Ligue 1. Among players in Europe's top five leagues with at least 100 shots during the same period, only Manchester City's Antoine Semenyo has achieved such a balanced left-foot and right-foot shooting ratio.

The shot heat map shows that this allows Dembele to finish chances from various angles, with his actual goals far exceeding his expected goals (xG) figure. It highlights his finishing efficiency—he can adapt to most scoring opportunities inside the box without being limited by his preferred foot.

Back to the present, Paris Saint-Germain have had a slow start to the domestic season, earning only two points from their first three Ligue 1 matches and losing last month's opening French Super Cup match against Lens.

This interview took place the day after Paris drew 2-2 with Rennes, a match in which Kvaratskhelia and Dembele were both substituted at halftime. After the game, Enrique warned players in an interview: "If you are always thinking about the achievements of the past, you will gain nothing in the future."

On Wednesday, Paris Saint-Germain began their Champions League title defense with a 6-1 win over Slovan Bratislava (Dembele scored twice and provided two assists, while Ruiz scored the final goal). After speaking with these three outstanding players, it is clear they do not intend to rest on past achievements.

They are still pursuing excellence and aiming to win more trophies—we hear what Ruiz has to say.

"Why can't we dream of winning three consecutive Champions League titles, and dream of collecting every trophy available?"