The hidden side of the day Maradona met Pelé

To understand the value of that first meeting, it is necessary to understand the time in which it took place and the changes that the passage of time has caused in the two characters, in the media, in technology and in the transformation of football into an incomparable mass phenomenon. There was no internet, there were no cell phones and famous soccer players were stars but not superstars. Even that Pelé has already retired and has become a legend at 39 years old. Even that Maradona who was about to turn 19.

The meeting in Pelé’s apartment in Copacabana was on Monday April 9, 1979, but it took place in the summer, in Uruguay. Maradona was a member of the Argentine Youth who played in the South American Sub 20 who won the place for the World Cup that the Selection led by César Luis Menotti, with Ernesto Duchini alongside him, would have obtained in Japan in August.

That youth team had a day off and Diego left Montevideo for the beaches of Atlántida with Don Diego, Doña Tota and their representative Jorge Cyterszpiler. The group was joined by Guillermo Blanco, journalist of El Gráfico and then Diego’s press officer in the Barcelona phase until the beginning of Napoli, when the star changed representative and Guillermo Coppola landed.

“Look Daddy, Look Daddy”Diego told Blanco as he watched his father wallow in the sand and become Milanese, like a child. Dona Tota wore the same wand she used in Fiorito. It can be said that it was the first vacation for Diego’s parents. “He doesn’t work anymore, I already told him he won’t work anymore” Diego repeated to Blanco while they were talking about soccer until, suddenly, Diego blurted out the sentence: “How I Wish to Meet Pele”.

White saw the note. journalist’s nose

Diego knew who Pele was, of course. But I wasn’t fully aware of who Pele was. Due to age he had not seen Santos and was only struck by the 1970 World Cup. Instead he was seduced by Rivelino whom he had seen play in the tournament in Mexico but also in the 1974 World Cup in Germany and in the still fresh World Cup in Argentina 78. Diego has used 10, asked for 10, for Pele. But he also looked at Rivelino because he was left-handed like him.

Upon returning from Uruguay, Blanco proposed the meeting at an El Gráfico editorial board meeting. Of course it is accepted. And it’s silent. From the editorial office in via Azopardo they contacted the Brazilian journalist Darlys Batista, who had a good arrival at Pelé. When Pele finds out, he immediately accepts. when Maradona receives the news that he could go to Rio on one condition: the meeting was supposed to be on Monday. He didn’t say why. He would have confessed to Blanco on the return plane.

On Sunday the 8th, Argentinos played with Huracán and Maradona was warned by a kick from Carlos Babington. Justo Babington, who hit no one, had had the misfortune to hit him hard. In the changing rooms, Argentinos president Próspero Cónsoli asked the 10 how they were feeling. Diego told him that he hurt a little. Cónsoli told him: “Well, tomorrow you’re free, rest and recover.” Then Diego replied: “No, not tomorrow, I’m going to see Pelé”. Consoli was absorbed, but kept silent.

Diego, Don Diego, Cyterszpiler, Blanco and the unforgettable photojournalist Ricardo Alfieri went to Rio. In the return to Ezeiza, Diego complained about the blow. Upon arrival in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the group stayed at the Palace hotel. Double room for journalists, triple room for Diego, his father and his representative. Simple rooms. No luxury.

At three in the morning the phone rings in Blanco’s room. It was Cyterszpiler. White shook.

– What happened, George?

-No Guille… It’s just that Diego is thirsty and asks if he can get a Coca Cola from the ice cream shop.

The group of Argentines arrived at Pelé’s apartment on time. After a while the Brazilian came in grinning from ear to ear. There was tension in the visitors, they didn’t know what could happen. They were in front of a world star. Diego knew it, but he knew it less than his companions. Pele made a genius like the ones he made on the playgrounds.

He entered the living room. He dodged Alfieri, whom he knew. Alfieri began to cry when he saw the brunette. Pele dribbled past Diego. He just nodded to Blanco. And he embraced don Diego tightly. “How is dad?”. The ice had broken, the fears had disappeared.

Diego, his father and Pele sat in the long chair. In a small one, Alfieri. In another, White. Don Diego smiled. Pele has spoken. Diego just listened. They talked about football Pelé said he read that he scored a goal with his hand. Maradona agreed. It had been against Newell’s in the appointment before the match with Huracán.

Some time later, Juan Simón, Pelusa’s Sub 20 teammate, told a slightly different version: “He put it down with his hand and then he finished,” he said. That play was, therefore, not a premonition of “The Hand of God”. Diego told him he had received criticism for that move. Pele laughed: “But don’t worry… it’s the referees’ problem.”. That was indeed a harbinger of what was to come seven years later at the Azteca stadium.

Pele took the guitar. And he sang a samba from the record that went on sale a few days earlier. Over the years, on La Noche del 10, Pelé also sang another song for Diego, this time composed especially for him.

Old fox, seasoned man, knowing all that football was (is), Pele gave Diego some advice: “Take care of your body, rest. There’s time to have a drink, to go out in the evening, to smoke a cigarette… but all in balance”. Diego listened.

The farewell came and Diego gave him a ball and a shirt. Pele gave him watches with his brand name “to give to your brothers”. They said hi.

In the shuttle that brought the five Argentines to El Galeao airport, Blanco recalled the two times Maradona had postponed the trip. Only then did Diego say to her: “It’s just that we have a day off on Monday. And Monday is for Claudia.”

The most curious thing is that such a note was not on the cover of El Gráfico that has chosen to give Victor Galíndez, brand new world champion, on the cover. The interview has improved over time, like good wines. And today it is a classic. Pele and Maradona also did not charge a dollar for the note. Those were different times, as mentioned.

Two years later, with Boca already champions, the team went to play a tournament in the Ivory Coast. Blanco was the only reporter to cover that tour. During a stopover in Lagos, Maradona confessed to him: “I’m tired of football, of all this. I’ll stop playing”.

Obviously it was published in El Gráfico. Pele read what Diego was saying and wrote him a letter. Like a surrogate father, like a close uncle. He told him not to do it, to think that football needed him, that he had a lot to give and that he would be very successful in his career.

Then came the after. Diego was already more Maradona than Diego Pelusa. The media helped with their silly comparisons as our number 10 amassed prowess in Naples and won the 1986 World Cup. There were loud statements. The “debut with a little boy”, some offenses by Pelé to Diego’s qualities as a player. There was peace on the night of the 10th. Life went on. Until it’s over. Pele is deeply sorry for the death of Maradona. Perhaps he sensed that, due to his age, his end was also approaching. Until the ball finally stopped and O Rei also left.

We are left with the story of that first time. Forever.