Tributes have continued to pour in for football icon, Diego Amando Maradona. This time around, it is coming from Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo, who rates the legend high.
The former Milan midfielder said Maradona ‘was the idol of all kids who wanted to play football’.
Maradona died on Wednesday due to cardiac arrest. He was buried on Thursday after Argentina declared three days of mourning for a player they referred to as a national hero.
His remain was displayed at the presidential palace in Casa Rosada for his fans to pay their last respect.
Many were seen holding his various jerseys, crying to see their hero gone. He was eventually buried in a cemetery at Buenos Aires beside the graveyards of his parents.
Why Pirlo rates Maradona high
Speaking to Juventus TV ahead of Juve’s visit to Benevento today, the coach said he used to try score the goals scored by the football icon, who led Argentina to a world cup triumph in 1986.
“He was the idol of all of us kids who wanted to play football. I remember the first World Cups I saw and the one in 1986 when he won with Argentina.
“I used to go to the garden and try to score the goal he scored against England, tried to dribble all the men.
“It’s an indelible memory of a unique player who will remain in the history of football forever. I had the good fortune to meet him a few times, I also have a photo-souvenir and I’m happy to have it in my album.”
It could be recalled that the globe mourned the Argentine hero especially Serie A club, Napoli whom he led to the success of two Italia Serie A titles in his seven-year stints.
The Serie A club is also planning to rename the San Paolo Stadium iun his name as a honour.
Outside the Stadium, while the Europa League clash between Napoli and Rijeka was going on, fans were seen chanting Diego, burning fireworks, and enjoying themselves as they were restricted from going into the stadium due to COVID-19.
Such was the seen at Argentina were fans kept vigil from Wednesday night till he was buried.
