Napoli to name stadium after Maradona amid more tributes

ITALIAN club Napoli will name their stadium after Diego Maradona who died on Wednesday.Maradona, who celebrated his 60th birthday on 30 October, died on Wednesday of heart attack days after surviving brain surgery.

The Argetinian legend spent seven years at Napoli from 1984 to 1991, propelling them to unprecedented success.

He remains the best player in the club’s history and he is worshipped in Naples after leading the city’s club to two Serie A titles, including their first ever in 1987.

Napoli also won the UEFA Cup during his spell at the club as Maradona cemented a cult-hero status among the fans.

Now, following the the passing of the 1986 World Cup winner with Argentina, Napoli have decided to give him the high honour of naming their ground after Maradona.

Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis confirmed the action on Wednesday night, telling RMC Info: “We can consider the idea of calling our stadium San Paolo-Diego Armando Maradona.

”The Mayor of Naples Luigi de Magistris also confirmed the renaming of the city’s Stadio San Paolo after  Maradona. 

“The people of Naples want the stadium named after a saint (San Paolo) to be renamed after a god (Diego Maradona).” 

The people of Naples were in mourning all through Wednesday night, taking to the streets to pay tribute to their hero, hundreds holding candles.

Also, there were more emotional tributes for the football icon from Napoli, their players and rival football clubs on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

“The world awaits our words but there are no words to describe the pain we’re going through. Now is the time to grieve.Always in our hearts. Ciao, Diego,” Napoli tweeted.

Napoli star Dries Mertens said Maradona, who FIFA named Player of the Century in 2000 along with Pele, inspired him.”You were the first thing that came to my mind when I signed for Naples,” the Belgian tweeted.

“Wearing the blue shirt will mean even more from now on. Napoli lost part of its soul today. You were, and will always be, an inspiration to all of us.

“If my name has ever been placed next to yours, I apologize, I will never be at your level. What you did for “our” city will go down in history forever. It was an honour to have met you. Forever my idol.” 

Mertens’ teammate Kalidou Koulibaly was thankful he got to meet Maradona.”I will never forget your words for me.The words I now have in my head are just two: thank you. For everything. Forever,” the Senegal defender wrote.

Everton manager and former AC Milan midfielder Carlo Ancelotti, who played against Maradona, wrote: “You were always a genius. Today is a very sad day and a great loss. But you my friend are eternal. Ciao Diego.  Rest In Peace.” 

“Rest in peace, Diego. We will never forget you!” current UEFA Champions League champions Bayern Munich tweeted.

AC Milan, who had a huge rivalry with Napoli when Maradona was there, wrote “An honour to have faced you, Diego” and added a video of the late legend in action against them.

Inter Milan, another Italian rival of Maradona’s Napoli, wrote: “Every era has had great number 10s, but very few have defined an era. 

“Maradona wasn’t just a great opponent, he was the greatest. Ciao, Diego.”AS Roma, who also faced Maradona several times during his time in Italy, acknowledged his greatness.

“A genius with the ball at his feet, and undoubtedly one of the greatest to ever play the game,” they wrote.”His legacy will live on forever. Rest in peace, Diego Armando Maradona.”

Fiorentina, also Italian rivals of Napoli’s during Maradona’s era, tweeted: “A name that will live on in the history of football forever. Rest in peace, Diego Armando Maradona.”

Spanish club Atletico Madrid added: “A legend of world football has left us today. We would like to express our condolences to the family and friends of Diego Armando Maradona. Rest in peace.”Argentine club Boca Juniors, who sold Maradona to Barcelona in 1982 for a then world record transfer fee of £5m, simply wrote: “Eternal thanks. Eternal Diego.”