Napoli named Maradona home to "the greatest player of all time"

Italian club Napoli honored its former Argentine star Diego Armando Maradona, who died on November 25 at the age of 60 after a health setback, by launching his name on his stadium, according to what the southern city municipality announced Friday.


As soon as the news of Maradona's death was announced in his country, Argentina, Napoli club president Aurelio de Laurentiis and the city authorities adopted the idea of ​​launching the name of the Argentine legend at the "San Paolo" stadium in which the 1986 World Cup champion starred during the seven-year period with the southern team jersey.


The municipality of Naples revealed that the change in the name of the stadium was approved "by all the members of the municipal council," which praised what it considered "the greatest footballer of all time. He obtained in return the eternal unconditional love of the whole city.


The first match for Napoli at home will be the new name of "Diego Armando Maradona" next Thursday in the European League "Euro League" against Real Sociedad of Spain.


The Napoli players had previously honored the Argentine, who led the team to its only Italian league titles in 1987 and 1990, in addition to the domestic cup in 1987 and the European Union Cup in 1989, before their last match in the "Europa League" against Rijeka in Croatia (2-0) at the stadium. San Paulo "by wearing the number 10 shirt and the legend's name.


All the players wore the black badge and kept the symbol jersey during the presentation of the two teams and during the minute of silence, when a picture of the greatest absentee appeared on a giant screen inside the stadium.


Then, last Sunday, they faced their guest, Roma in the league (4-0), in a shirt similar to the Argentine national team, in honor of the one who was called the "golden boy".


Neapolitan fans did not wait for the decision of the board of directors and the municipality to name the Argentine their stronghold. Hours after the news of the death, they put signs on the walls of the stadium reading "Diego Armando Maradona Stadium" with a picture of the face of the Argentine and the signature of the supporters of the famous runway "Corva B".


Last Thursday, Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne placed a bouquet of flowers on the walls of the club and said, "Maradona represents a lot, not only for me personally but also for the people of Naples. He has always defended us, we have carried in his heart and we must reciprocate him."


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