Diego Armando Maradona died in Tigre, Argentina, but being in Naples one would have the feeling it all happened here, writes Lorenzo Bettoni.
Maradona’s body lies more than 11,000km away from Vesuvius, but his soul will forever belong to this place.
— footballitalia (@footballitalia) November 26, 2020
Hundreds of people have been gathering in front of one of the most iconic murals in town since the news of Maradona’s death was spread by Clarin on November 25.
In less than 24 hours, the giant representation of El Pide de Oro in a Napoli shirt in the Quartieri Spagnoli was surrounded by fans bringing scarves, candles, pictures, and written messages to bid farewell to a person who really felt like a family member to every Neapolitan.
The city is half empty, just like any other place in Italy in the pandemic era. A lot of shops are closed, bars and restaurants can only do take away. There’s no Christmas feeling and not many people around. Nevertheless, when I crossed paths with two people talking, trying to hear what they were saying, I could only hear one word: Diego.
read also:Maradona was simply too hot for comfort for me – McGarvey
The almost empty streets of Napoli city center became more crowded as I approached the mural. Once I arrived I found more than 100 people staring at it.