“I have to return to Napoli to win the Scudetto,” said Diego Armando Maradona, but is “not on the same wavelength” as Aurelio De Laurentiis.
The club legend sat down with Piuenne to discuss his past, present and future around the Partenopei.
“I have to return to Napoli to win the Scudetto,” said Diego Armando Maradona, but is “not on the same wavelength” as Aurelio De Laurentiis.
The club legend sat down with Piuenne to discuss his past, present and future around the Partenopei.
“I have to return to Napoli. I have to return to Napoli to win the Scudetto,” said Pibe de Oro from his home in Dubai.
“Other teams wanted me at the time, as I’d had a row with Barcelona and wanted to leave. Choosing Napoli was salvation for me.
“I knew there were 70,000 people going to the stadium every Sunday to see a team fighting against relegation. This really hurt me. I remember from the first day I found 80,000 fans at the San Paolo and was absolutely stunned.”
There are plans to make Maradona a roving ambassador for the Napoli brand.
“I’d love that, it would be exceptional, but first I have to figure out if De Laurentiis wants to give me this role and what he wants to do for the people of Napoli.
“The only certain thing I can say is that Pocho Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani should’ve stayed, so Napoli would’ve become such a strong team.
“I am not on the same wavelength as De Laurentiis. I want to be ambassador for Napoli, but only if it is a grand Napoli, one that won’t lose the Champions League because of one goal. I won’t have that.”
The Partenopei finished the Champions League group level top with Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund on 12 points, but went out because of goal difference.
As well as telling De Laurentiis how to run Napoli, Maradona also had advice for Pope Francis.
“He needs to change the Vatican to give it to the people. In my view the Vatican is a lie, because instead of giving to the people, it just takes. I want Pope Francis to turn this concept on its head.”
The Argentina legend won the World Cup in 1986 and is looking forward to this summer’s tournament in Brazil.
“I see the World Cup being an all-South American affair, because the European teams tend to struggle in exotic locations. Brazil and Argentina have the players to win the title, but I don’t know whether Spain and Holland can repeat themselves.
“I saw Italy play recently and they have some good players, but I don’t think they are among the favourites.”
Maradona is working to get in shape after years of cocaine abuse left his body struggling.
“Drugs took away so much of my happiness, but fortunately I am now fine. I can get up in the morning, talk to my daughters every day and I’m always curious to hear what my grandson Benjamin is doing.
“All that I could not appreciate with my daughters when they were little, I am getting from my grandson. It is also thanks to him that I am getting healthy again.”
Benjamin is the son of Maradona’s daughter Giannina and Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, although the couple separated in January 2013.