Mamardashvili, the Georgian giant who awaits Spain in the 1/8 finals

“But where do you go with a goalkeeper? Georgian“?”, answered the agent Antonio Lopez when he started suggesting Georgiy Mamardashvili (Tbilisi, 2000) V 2021. Now the goalkeeper Valencia this feeling European Cup and a wall that needs to be torn down Spain in round 16. The cold numbers show this. Their twenty one stops far exceed stops Nita (Romania) And Strakosha (Albania), both with 13. And also “hot data” as they spray the expected goals statistics after a shot (PSxG). By this quality indicator he is the goalkeeper who has prevented the most “safe goals” (3.5), in three games.

Son David Mamardashviliformer Modesto goalkeeper and goalkeeper coach FC Gagragoalkeeper Valencia three years ago I made the risky decision to jump into Spain it ultimately elevated him. Giant Georgian (measure 1.97 and weighs 90 kilograms) agreed to sign a contract on behalf of the subsidiary Valencia – who was in 3rd RFEF– in June 2021 when it was already international U21 with his country and played three previous tours Europa League a year ago. It was in one of those European Cup matches against Grenadewhere the intermediary was convinced that he could deliver him to SpainThere were doubts in the WhatsApp group “Proposals”. up to 23 years old” shared several quarry technicians. Being a player Dynamo Tbilisitied three gears to Metallurg Rustavi – elected best goalkeeper Georgia V 2020– and in Lokomotiv Tbilisi.

He Valencia to pay 50,000 euros for transfer and the possibility of purchase was retained 800,000 -it was a very long time because it started in 300,000– and declared him a reinforcement for the second team. But he never trained under orders Corner. After the completion of the league in Georgiajoined the main pre-season team with Bordalas and started in the first friendly match due to injuries Cillessen And Jaume Domenech. He played a great game and Huntedgoalkeeper coach, confirmed his impressions from training: “He needs to be polished, but he is a First Division goalkeeper.”

Premature championship debut with Bordalas

His debut in League It was a rally of heroic resistance in Mestallawith rescue feet of all colors, after expulsion Guillamon in a minute 1. After several games at a very good level in the highest category, Bordalas punished him after a bad game Seville (3-0). But there was no longer any doubt within the club that the exercise of the option to purchase the goalkeeper, which was exercised later that year, with a progressive clause to purchase the goalkeeper, did not pose any risk. 20 million, which failed a few months later. Actually, Valencia ended up protecting the player 100 million clause and agreement until 2027.

Over these three seasons Valencia, Mamardashvili He’s a much better goalkeeper. To his positioning and reflexes between the sticks, he added improvements in playing the ball in the air (a technical problem that is independent of the size of the goal) and his skill in penalties, because he is also very skilled in saving low balls, despite the fact that he almost two years. meters high. He’s stopped three of his six shots this season. League. And this ability also led him to become a key player in Georgia is now one of the revelations. The Crusaders entered a painful playoff against Greece. He was down to ten players before the break and lost due to injury Kvaratskhelia in extra time. But he saved a penalty in the shootout and made a mistake in the next one.

In that European Cup left a blank slate(Portugal) and was elected MVP matches against Czech Republic (eleven stops at the meeting). Goalkeepers who made the most saves in a group stage match European Cup Was: Alexander Kolinko (12 stops at 2004), Francesco Toldo (eleven V 2000), Shay Given (eleven V year 2012) And Georgiy Mamardashvili (eleven V 2024).

Mamardashvili There has been a “For Sale” sign hanging on it for several months now. Valenciaafter Valencia would refuse to pass this on 35 million last year Bavaria, as the goalkeeper himself said. After the campaign with 13 clean results and outstanding results, many teams have established Georgian. “I would like to stay, but it’s none of my business,” he said. Mamardashvili after the last game in Mestalla. It is true that the club and its largest shareholder, Peter Lim– understands that the offer is higher than 40 million euros would be irrefutable, although its level in euros may increase this rating. That’s why he Valencia included in Dimitrievsky before the start European Cup and let the player finish standing in the window – what’s in the club Mestalla, without European competitions he is seen much less – in front of scouts, sporting directors and the general public. “My future is clear and will be decided soon,” he said in an interview in his home country after the season ended. At the moment this makes the country less than 4 million residents and 33 years stories.