MAFIA AND POPULARITY PROBLEMS
                   Despite his success with the team, the situation in Naples had
                   deteriorated. 
                   Maradona was eager to leave, but manager, Ferlaino, had other
                   ideas. In today’s extract, Maradona lifts the lid on his mafia
                   connections and details the final days in Italy.......

                   Ferlaino didn’t want to let me go. He came up to me on the pitch while I was
                   still holding the UEFA cup... He whispered in my ear holding both my
                   shoulders and said: “We’re going to see the contract out, aren’t we Diego?”

                   I wanted to bring the cup down on his head but the only thing that came out
                   was, “It’s not the time Mr. Chairman. It’s just not the right moment... But I’ve
                   kept my side of the bargain, now you have to keep yours.” And right there on
                   the pitch he said, “No, no, no, I’m not selling you, I only said it to motivate
                   you.”

                   Then came the endless vacations... I wanted my holidays and I was
                   determined to take them. They’d made my bed and they’d have to sleep in it.
                   What were they thinking about? Did they think it was the first time that I’d had
                   a bust-up?

                   That was when they began, quite by chance, to link me to drugs and the
                   Camorra [the Naples mafia]. Some photos appeared in Il Mattino and other
                   magazines of me with Carmine Giuliano, who was allegedly the leader of one of
                   the Camorrist groups, the head of the most powerful districts, Forcella...

                   I admit that world was quite captivating. I do admit. For Argentinians
                   something quite novel: the mafia, what’s it like? It was kind of fascinating to
                   watch. Of course I used to be offered stuff but I always refused ’cause they
                   always give first and then ask for favours later... They used to invite me to the
                   fan clubs, give me watches, that sort of thing. That’s the kind of relationship I
                   had with them.

                   Every time I’d go to one of the clubs they’d give me a gold Rolex or a car. A
                   bloody car! They gave me the first Volvo 900 in Italy... And I’d say, “But what
                   have I got to do?” And they’d say, “Nothing. Have your picture taken.”
                   “Thanks very much,” I’d say and the next day I’d see the photo in the paper.
                   That’s how I appeared with Carmine Giuliano and his family.

                   On 29 April, after my teammates from the Argentinian national side had
                   already landed in Italy to face the final straight to the World Cup, we played
                   against Lazio. It was my last game. A formality, mate, just a formality. A goal
                   off Baroni’s head and off to collect the cheque.

                   Just as before, when I was still on the pitch, as soon as I heard the final
                   whistle go, I’d shouted from the bottom of my heart and soul, “This is the proof
                   that I know myself better than anybody! And the cheque to let me live my life!
                   I want to live my life, please!”
                   They didn’t let me, they just wouldn’t let me...

                   “Why do people hate me in Italy? When I arrived in Naples I was a popular
                   player everybody admired and adored... because we weren't winning anything.
                   I was popular and people admired me because I played well. Teams used to
                   put three goals past Napoli in Turin, four in Florence and that’s the way it was
                   every Sunday. But Napoli built a great team and we started winning
                   everywhere. I stopped being so popular. In the five years after my arrival,
                   Napoli won two scudettos, the Copa Italia, the UEFA cup, two second places
                   and a third place in the League...

                   I waved Napoli goodbye with a penalty against Sampdoria on 24 March 1991.
                   But I was pushed out of Italy like a criminal... And that’s surely not the best
                   summary of my history at Napoli, is it?

~Chapter 12

Chapters Index~

Chapter 14~