Mail Online

I LOVED visiting Naples last week for England’s game against Italy. I have only been once before

— for one of Andre Villas-Boas’ last games in charge of Chelsea when they lost to Napoli in February 2012 — and I didn’t have time to see much of the city. This time, I walked around and soaked up the city’s football culture. It was a real education. I don’t think I have ever been to a city that openly reveres a sporting hero as much as Naples reveres Diego Maradona.

It is not just the giant murals in the Spanish Quarter and the flags bearing his image that hang from almost every balcony. It is the portraits that sit randomly outside fishmongers, the stadium that bears his name, the images of him in religious dress, the shrines to him, the ubiquitous worship of him. I have seen reverence for George Best in Belfast, Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai and Pele in Santos. But none of it compares with Maradona’s presence in Naples.

FOOTBALL

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2023-03-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://mailonline.pressreader.com/article/282699051381786

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