Diego Maradona left us in November 2020. But his soul is still very much alive in Naples, where he illuminated football with his talent from 1984 to 1992. This Monday, a few hours from a meeting against Napoli, the coach from AS Roma José Mourinho wanted to pay tribute to the Argentine legend. The Portuguese coach went to the Spanish quarter of the city, where there is a large mural representing the number 10. Escorted by security forces, José Mourinho stayed a few seconds contemplating the fresco, before coming to lay a large wreath at his feet.
The technician was then widely applauded by Napoli supporters present on the spot. Mourinho and Maradona had met on several occasions and had established a real friendship. When the Argentinian died in 2020, Mourinho told BT Sport: “What I will miss the most is the phone call he gave me after each defeat. He didn’t call me after the wins because he knew I didn’t need to. But in difficult times, he was always there. After the defeats, he said to me: Mo, do not forget that you are the best”.
José Mourinho hopes his players will shine against Napoli this Monday evening, in a crucial match for the race for the Champions League. Roma, 5th with 57 points, is playing its all out against third in Serie A, who currently has 66 points. The Romans are also still in the race in the Europa League Conference. They will face Leicester in the semi-finals on April 28 and May 5.