Before a tribute on Saturday evening at the Parc des Princes, on the occasion of the Ligue 1 meeting against Bordeaux, PSG greeted the memory of Diego Maradona on Thursday, the day after his disappearance.
At the Camp des Loges, on the sidelines of the day's training session, the Parisians of Thomas Tuchel posed around a flag of Argentina and a jersey of the selection.
Then the group applauded former number 10.
In a video published this Thursday evening, Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes and Neymar took turns speaking to evoke Maradona.
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“It was difficult, it was a sad day, slips Di Maria, very moved.
When we started hearing the news that Diego was gone, we wondered: which Diego?
Because no one could imagine it was Maradona.
It was something very shocking.
"
Like many of his compatriots, Di Maria emphasizes that in his eyes Diego was "eternal".
“I woke up today and still didn't believe everything I had heard was true,” he continues.
The players and staff of @PSG_inside wanted to pay tribute to 𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐠𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚.
Angel Di Maria, @LParedss and @neymarjr opened up about the Argentinian legend's disappearance.
- Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) November 26, 2020
The PSG midfielder also uses his memories to evoke Maradona.
“The first time I met him was at the 2010 World Cup,” he recalls.
He came to see me when I was playing at Benfica and he called me for selection.
Honestly, I couldn't believe I was seeing him, eating with him.
I was 22, I was very young and having him in front of me was unique.
"
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He still says: “He was a coach apart, with a hell of a personality.
He would come and see us in the rooms to talk to us, talk about the matches, give instructions… It's different from what I have experienced with other coaches, in a club or in selection.
He touched the heart directly, he made us dream, he made us understand that we were strong.
I lived with him for twenty days in a row, in a base camp, he always had time for us, always a word, he kissed us a lot.
It was a unique experience to live.
"
“When I was told that Diego was gone, I asked 'Which Diego?'
because I couldn't imagine it was Maradona.
It was a shock.
»
🙏 The homage of Ángel Di María and other Parisians to the legend 𝗗𝗶𝗲𝗴𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/vTNHcBzIpb
- Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) November 26, 2020
For Leandro Paredes, the death of Maradona "is sad news not only for Argentina but for all those who love football".
The midfielder adds: “For those of us who loved Diego, it was very difficult news.
Today he rests in peace.
I extend my condolences to his family and I think of them very much.
"
Paredes explains that he "never had the chance to see him play for real".
But he met the star after his debut match in Argentina's premier division.
“He had signed my jersey,” he remembers.
What Diego gave off was incredible.
"
The Parisian obviously thinks of the Argentine people.
“For us, it's everything,” he says.
He gave us everything.
We are more than grateful to him.
He gave everything on a field, all he had, all his courage to represent his country.
It's incredible.
I am completely grateful to him.
"
Neymar was 14 when he met Maradona.
DR
Finally, Neymar is also associated with the man from PSG.
“Maradona represents football,” he says.
When I started to be passionate about football, I knew the names of the players who had made history.
For me, those names have always been Pelé and Maradona.
"
Neymar also underlines: “He is gone but he leaves a beautiful legacy and he will always live through football.
Football thanks Diego for choosing this sport and I am happy to play the same sport as him.
"
In conclusion, the Brazilian launches: “I think that all the people who saw him play were touched in some way.
He's made a lot of people's lives better and that's the most important thing ”.
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