Zola on Maradona: “An extraordinary man, more than a legend” | OneFootball

Today, October 30th, Diego Armando Maradona would have celebrated his 65th birthday. Years after his passing, the memory of the Pibe de Oro remains alive in the hearts of fans and those who were lucky enough to know him personally. To celebrate the anniversary of the Argentine champion’s birth, the “Napoli Legends” association has collected a series of messages and testimonies from former teammates, friends, and colleagues who wanted to pay tribute to him.

Zola moves with his memory of Maradona: “That gesture in Pisa changed my career”

Among the most touching contributions is that of Gianfranco Zola, who shared the Napoli locker room with Maradona in the early ’90s, at the dawn of his career. In a video released by the association, the former Sardinian playmaker wanted to recall an unforgettable moment experienced alongside the Argentine number 10: “This little message is to remember the birthday of a dear friend and a great person who was very important to me: Diego Maradona. I was asked to share an anecdote and the first that came to mind was when we played in Pisa in February 1991.”

Zola then recounted a gesture that he still cherishes with emotion today: “Diego wanted to play with the number 9 jersey, giving me the chance to wear number 10. It was an incredible gesture, which gave me confidence and belief in my abilities. For me, it was a sign of great generosity, a testament to his greatness not only as a footballer but also as a man.”

Andrea Alati

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.