Diego Maradona's life and career are made up of myths and realities.
In the case of his non-transfer to Olympique de Marseille, all is true.
The person himself confided in the columns of France Football this week.
The story takes place in 1989. At 29, the Argentinian, crowned with a world champion title acquired three years earlier, is at the top of his game with Naples.
OM, for its part, is heading towards a cup-championship double.
"Bernard Tapie learns that Diego is ready to leave the club", remembered Michel Hidalgo, then manager of the Marseille club, in 2013 for
L'Équipe
.
The beginning of a soap opera.
The best of Maradona in Naples (1984-1991)
"Bernard Tapie and Michel Hidalgo even came to see me as far as Italy."
Diego Maradona
"Tapie left immediately, explained to me that it was not a question of money and offered to take his private plane to meet Maradona at his home in Naples," Hildago told
So Foot
.
The former coach of the Blues, who disappeared on March 26, was welcomed and brought into the kitchen of Maradona, the latter enjoying the baptism of his daughter.
In the columns of
France Football
this week, Maradona confirmed the veracity of this story.
“Yes yes, I remember it very well, he ecstatic when asked about the almost-transfer to Marseille.
Bernard Tapie and Michel Hidalgo even came to see me as far as Italy. "
Hidalgo then affirms that Maradona was convinced to come to OM because "he would have a house by the sea with palm trees".
In FF, the Argentine insists on a proposal to “double my salary”.
The president of Naples had given his word
Maradona wanted to come, even though the president of Naples, Corrado Ferlaino, had given his word for an exit voucher for the former Barcelona.
"President Ferlaino told me that if we won the European Cup, he would let me go", revealed Maradona.
The Italian club beat Vfb Stuttgart in the 1989 UEFA Cup final (2-1, 3-3).
Later, the Argentine star thanked her president by bidding him farewell.
"At that point, he started playing the fool, as if he didn't understand, and he took a step back," regrets Maradona.
"It was not only him who had signed, Ferlaino had also signed, I had the written agreement of the player and the club", vociferated Bernard Tapie at the time, in the columns of
L'Équipe
.
President Ferlaino has claimed 80 million francs, or more than 12 million euros today.
A colossal sum while the biggest transfer of the time was that of Ruud Gullit, from PSV Eindhoven to AC Milan, for € 6.8m.
"We knew very quickly that it wouldn't be possible," Ferlaino retorted later.
I think Bernard Tapie dragged the story out a bit in the media, because it made the club talk in Europe and it was good strategically, to be a club that can afford Maradona. ”
Winner of the Champions League four years later, OM will not have mourned Maradona for long.
It's the event of the week!
France Football publishes a collector's issue dedicated to Diego Maradona!
With a larger format and an interview with El Pibe de Oro!
The full summary of an UNMISSABLE issue: https://t.co/gXoNvPArVfpic.twitter.com/i3GjS7NiQO
- France Football (@francefootball) October 26, 2020
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