11/25/2020 3:25 PM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 11/25/2020 3:25 PM
One last grimace of fate.
A final symbol for a life full of moments that remain forever in history.
The
November 25
, from this year on, the date that puts an end to the life and work of Diego Armando Maradona, coincides with the date of the death of Fidel Castro, one of the political leaders who most and best represented the Argentine Ten.
Fidel died on November 25, 2016 and his ashes were veiled for two days at the José Martí Memorial in the Cuban capital, to then be transferred in a caravan that for four days traveled the country along 900 kilometers to Santiago de Cuba .
The burial ceremony took place on December 4 in the Santa Ifigenia cemetery, where the remains were deposited inside a large gray granite rock with a dark green marble plaque that reads "Fidel" in relief.
In the Caribbean nation there are no monuments, busts or streets with the name of the former president, in accordance with his last will and a law on the matter approved by parliament.
Diego Maradona could not be there.
He was thousands of kilometers away, in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, where he witnessed the historic conquest of the Davis Cup by the team whose emblem was Juan Martín Del Potro and was captained by Daniel Orsanic.
"I was seized by a terrible cry because he was like my second father," Maradona said when Fidel died.
“He left me a phrase, he said 'you are coming to say goodbye, right?'
I said 'no, teacher'.
I was crying because I was surprised, it is as if Del Potro had hit me in the chest, that Fidel Castro told you 'you are coming to fire ...'.
I started crying, "he added.
One of the meetings between Diego and Fidel, in 2013. Photo: AFP
The relationship between Diego and the leader of the Cuban revolution had several chapters since they met in 1987. And the Argentine reflected that admiration with the tattoo he made of the Cuban on the twin of his left leg.
His greatest point of contact was when the Argentine crack underwent a recovery treatment for his drug addiction on the island.
He lived there between 2001 and 2004.
Later, visibly recovered, Diego surprised everyone by conducting a television series: "La noche del Diez" in which he invited and interviewed Fidel, among other emblematic characters.
Maradona's physical trainer in his splendor stage, Fernando Signorini, revealed that after the 87th America's Cup organized in Argentina, Diego Maradona was invited in mid-July to vacation on the beaches of Varadero, 130 kilometers from Havana.
"The idea excited him, not only because of the possibility of enjoying the charms of that tropical paradise, but also because the visit included a kind of amazing bonus track ... A meeting with the legendary leader of the Cuban Revolution, Commander Fidel Castro" , said Signorini about that first meeting in the Government House, a few meters from the mythical Plaza de la Revolución.
"For more than five hours we were captivated by his overwhelming personality, full of contagious enthusiasm and fine sense of humor," said Signorini, witness to the meeting in which a curiosity arose: Fidel wanted to know if there was an infallible formula to kick penalties.
"Before kicking, I look at the goalkeeper," Diego confessed.
The Cuban president took a notebook, wrote down the formula, and replied: "I'll try it tomorrow," causing laughter from those present.
It was the first chapter of a relationship of love and respect that, coincidence or not, they now share with the end point of each story.
Look also
Diego Maradona died: "I lost a great friend", Pelé's emotional farewell
Diego Maradona died: live video from the door of his house
