Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League for a second consecutive season on Saturday.
PSG beat Arsenal 4-3 on penalties in Budapest after Gabriel Magalhaes blazed his spot-kick over the crossbar.
Kvaratskhelia did not have his best game, but he still contributed to PSG’s victory by winning a penalty in the second half.
It was another stark reminder of what could have been for West Ham if they had signed him under David Moyes four years ago.
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West Ham were interested in signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in 2022
Kai Havertz’s early goal gave Arsenal a lead to defend, but Ousmane Dembele’s penalty eventually cancelled it out.
Kvaratskhelia won the penalty after he dribbled past makeshift right-back Cristhian Mosquera and was tripped inside the box.
It was another key moment in a fantastic Champions League campaign for the 25-year-old, having already scored 10 goals.
It is difficult to believe that one of the best wingers on the planet could have joined West Ham under Moyes.
The Hammers were interested in signing Kvaratskhelia when he was at Rubin Kazan in the 2021/22 season.
He only scored twice in 19 Russian Premier League matches in that campaign, but he showed signs of elite potential.
West Ham and Everton were among his biggest suitors before he joined Georgian club Dinamo Batumi on a free transfer.
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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine meant foreign players could leave immediately, allowing Kvaratskhelia to return home.
However, the Hammers still missed an opportunity to sign the winger two months earlier, in the January transfer window.
Rubin Kazan set an asking price of just £13 million, but a move to East London never materialised for one reason or another.
West Ham also failed to sign Kvaratskhelia from Dinamo Batumi in the following window, as he joined Napoli instead.
The Georgian has since established himself as a global superstar — something West Ham have not had for a long time.
Who knows whether he would have developed as well at the London Stadium, but it would have been fascinating to see.
Hopefully, the next time a Kvaratskhelia-like talent becomes available, the Hammers do not shy away from taking a punt.
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