As Arsenal prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League Final, Aliadiere believes one man has completely transformed the French champions over the last 18 months: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
In fact, the former Arsenal striker goes even further than that.
“Oh my God, I want Arsenal to sign him,” Aliadiere told Football Presse. “Right now he’s probably one of the best players in the world.”
It is not just Kvaratskhelia’s flair or creativity that has impressed him. Aliadiere believes the Georgian winger has developed into one of the most complete attackers in elite football.
“The way he dribbles, the way he attacks defenders, the work rate, the defending — everything.”
Aliadiere was especially struck by Kvaratskhelia’s intensity without the ball during PSG’s run to the Champions League final.
“You see him in the 90th minute still chasing back, still tackling, still working for the team. That’s what top players do now.”
For Aliadiere, it is that combination of quality and sacrifice that separates Kvaratskhelia from many other elite attackers.
“He can score, he can assist, he’s got vision, he’s explosive, but on top of that he works unbelievably hard. That’s why he’s so dangerous.”
Aliadiere believes Kvaratskhelia’s arrival elevated PSG onto another level entirely.
“When PSG came to the Emirates before he arrived, they looked good but not frightening. Then he signs, and suddenly they become a completely different team.”
The Georgian international joined PSG from Napoli during the 2025 winter window and quickly became the focal point of Luis Enrique’s rebuilt attack. Alongside Ousmane Dembele and Désiré Doué, Kvaratskhelia has helped create one of the most fluid forward lines in Europe.
And Aliadiere admits Arsenal will have to be extremely careful in Budapest.
“Every time PSG attack now, you feel like something can happen. And Kvaratskhelia is a huge reason for that.”
What impresses him most is the unpredictability.
“As a defender, you don’t know what he’s going to do next. He can go outside, inside, combine, shoot, create something out of nothing.”
Aliadiere also believes Kvaratskhelia has now entered the conversation for football’s biggest individual prize.
“If he keeps playing like this and PSG win the Champions League, of course he’ll be in the Ballon d’Or discussion.”
But he also knows how quickly football narratives can change.
“In football people forget very quickly. One tournament changes everything.”
With the 2026 World Cup arriving shortly after the Champions League final, Aliadiere believes players like Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele and even Kylian Mbappe could still shift the Ballon d’Or race with strong international tournaments.
But at this moment, few players excite him more than Kvaratskhelia.
“Honestly, watching him right now is a joy,” Aliadiere told Football Presse on behalf of Premier League predictions. “He’s got everything.”
Coming from a former Premier League forward who spent his career around elite attackers, that praise says plenty.