Argentine legend Diego Maradona is consistenly hailed as one of the greatest footballers in history, and the man who shares FIFA’s ‘Player of the century’ with Pele is all set to make a stunning return to the sport to represent a club owned by his lawyer and close friend.
Maradona, who has also tried his hand at football management without significant success, is all set to turn out for Argentine minnows Deportivo Riestra.
Deportivo plays in the fifth-tier of domestic football in Argentina but the legendary footballer isn’t put-off, and his much-anticipated return on March 23 is drawing much attention from the footballing world.
Tthe 1986 World Cup winner with Argentina has been dealing with weight issues over the last few years, but is believed to be in decent shape to start a match in over a month’s time.
Maradona, who is hailed in his homeland as ‘God’, is one of the most popular sporting figures in the country and so much interest has been generated in his comeback that Deportivo are all set to play their home match at the home ground of top-flight champions San Lorenzo, a 43,494 seater Estadio Pedro Bidegain.
The 53-year-old has been persuaded to make a surprise return to the game by close friend and legal representative Victor Stinfale, the financier of the lowly Buenos Aires side.
Tthe former National team boss was named “s[iritual coach” for the club last August, and if reports in the Argentine media are to be belived, then it is Maradona who insisted on taking to the field when asked to take up a managerial role for the club.
The paperwork and the finishing touches to the deal are expected to be completed soon, and we can expect Diego Maradona to take to the field in just over a month!
“Within five gameweeks, Maradona will be playing for Riestra,” a source has revealed. “He will debut on approximately the 23rd of March.”
There is significant excitement in the Riestra ranks, with squad member Victor More admitting he will have no problems giving away his No. 10 shirt for Maradona. “I’ll wear whatever.”, he admiited.
