About two years following his death, Messi and his comrades were able to honor the late legend, Diego Maradona, by winning the World Cup title following a 36-year wait, when the “Golden Child” won the same cup.
However, all eyes are now turning to Napoli for another tribute to “Il Pepe de Oro” by winning the Italian League title.
Fans of the Italian club of the south believe that their “Argentine saint” will be happy in heaven if the players can achieve the “Calcio” title during this season, which the club won only twice throughout its long history, thanks to the great talent of Diego Maradona.
The beginning of the story
Maradona’s story began with Napoli following the end of the 1983-1984 season, when the team was facing the specter of relegation to the second division, but it survived following finishing the league in eleventh place with 26 points, one point behind Genoa, who fell instead.
Accordingly, the Naples administration decided to take a step that later became the most important in the club’s history.
The administration sought to buy Maradona from FC Barcelona, who had announced that he did not want his riotous star to remain in his ranks following the events of the final match of the King’s Cup of Spain that brought together the Catalan giants and Athletic Bilbao at the “Santiago Bernabeu” stadium in Madrid on May 5, 1984. .
At that time, the match ended with the victory of Athletic Bilbao, and a quarrel broke out, which was started by Maradona, who had been subjected to a lot of roughness during the match.
Large numbers of fans entered the stadium in the presence of the King of Spain, while another section threw solid objects, injuring 60 people.
Indeed, the heavenly club was able to obtain the services of Maradona for more than $ 10 million, making him the most expensive player in the world at that time.
In front of 75,000 spectators and at a legendary reception at the “San Paolo” stadium, which now bears his name following his departure, Maradona confirmed that he would achieve with Napoli the Italian league title for the first time in the history of the “poor giant”.
Indeed, the captain of the Argentine national team fulfilled his promise at the time, and brought the Italian League to the coffers of the “Partinobi” for the first time in its history, following Napoli finished the 1986-1987 season in first place, and before repeating the same dream in the 1989-1990 season.
And following that historic achievement of Maradona’s comrades, the title has been absent from the club’s coffers until now.
However, hopes for this season are high to achieve the title for the third time and to honor Maradona, who was the last player to wear the number 10 shirt in Al-Samawi Club, out of respect for his immortal achievements that made him a “saint” in the city of Naples.
The southern Italian giants are presenting an amazing football season so far, as following 15 rounds have passed since the start of the Italian League, the “Partenopi” leads the standings with 41 points, 8 points ahead of Milan, its closest competitor.
Until now, the men of the coach, Luciano Spalletti, have not lost any match in the Italian League, as they have won 13 times, and tied twice without receiving any loss.
And if Messi said following his country’s difficult victory over the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the World Cup: “Diego (Maradona) is watching us from heaven, and represents our motivation,” then Naples fans also hope to honor the legend of their late club with a new title, and celebrate it in their commentary that bears The name of the best player in the history of the club.