As in the times of Diego Maradona: Naples, against the millionaires

No one will be able to convince a true Neapolitan that Diego Armando Maradona isn’t there. But not only because it has become the stadium that bears his name, nor because of the statue that was made to it, nor because of the daily tributes that are held there, nor because his phenomenon “the hero and the city” is still the object of study at the University.

Nor for the eternity of his sentences against “the rich north”; “the one who remembers us once a year”. Milan wanted it, with all the millions and all the temptations that Silvio Berlusconi – then president of the Rossoneri – put on the table, but Diego continued dressed in blue, already world champion, already the best of all.

Once, in a television program in Turin, they objected to his pronunciation. “I don’t speak Italian, I speak Neapolitan”, replied the crack born in the Fiorito district. Subsequently, we understand better what we experience in every game of this team: people are not mistaken for tears.

A perpetual idyll, a magical gift

The idyll lasts. It will be perpetual. That’s why now, the Neapolitans who believe they are playing with the twelve, are convinced that there is no accident in this epic, record-breaking, memorable campaign. Whoever flies over the stadiums also made a flag fly.

It is as if he had been for a while at the feet of the magical Georgian Kvicha Kvaratskhelia -leader in assists in Serie A-, in the astuteness of every definition of the Nigerian Victor Osimhen -scorer of the season-, in the ferocity of the Kosovar Amir Rrahmani, in the generosity of André Zambo Anguissa from Cameroon. Perhaps there is no coincidence in the comparisons: all – fundamental to the countryside – come from the suburbs.

Napoli, led by the audacious Luciano Spalletti, are the great sensation of the season. Not only in Italy, where he is the leader with 19 points ahead of Lazio, 21 over Inter and 23 over Milan (his rival this Sunday). 11 dates to go, 33 points in dispute. The third shield – the heir of the two he had with Diego on the field – is already a fact. All that is missing is the date of the celebration, of the Olympic return.

The millions of others, the joys of Napoli

And as in the happy times of Ten, Naples Fight and punish the powerful. The last two champions and main candidates for this season, Inter Milan and Milan have a bigger budget than the popular team from the south. In terms of tickets, according to the specialized website Transfermarkt, AC Milan has a market value of 571,400,000 euros; Inter – escort of those from his city – is valued at 555,950,000 euros. Napoli is just over 500 million.

There are two details in the campaign that make it bigger.

First: Juventus – the most despised team in the city of god– has been penalized with 15 discount points for not complying with the correctness financial. He is seventh, 30 points from Napoli, which win, like, thrash. And above all, it amazes.

The second one: In Soccer, every team that earns ten league titles receives one star to add to the league title. Inter and Milan entered this season with 19. Due to the exclusive responsibility of this Napoli, the second star will have to wait.

Europe knows it too: Napoli, which plays in 12, has marched

But it doesn’t just happen in the Italian peninsula, the phenomenon has transcended Europe. Napoli, with an impeccable campaign, accepted the quarter-finals of the Champions League. And if in Serie A they competed against other richer teams, in Europe the difference is abysmal.

Of the eight teams that are following in Orejona’s footsteps, with the exception of Benfica, all have a much bigger budget than the blue ones. Two of the crosses seem unlikely: Real Madrid (851.000.000)-Chelsea (1.020.000.000) and the most expensive: Manchester City (1.050.000.000)-Bayern Munich (995.700.000). The budget stratosphere. Among these four, one will be a finalist.

Napoli will face Milan (12/4 away and 18/4 at home); while Inter will play against Benfica (the one with the lowest market value with 313,000,000 euros). Detail: an Italian semi-finalist is already insured. AND If Inter go through, a football team will play in the Champions League final and have the chance to win it for the first time in 13 years.by Inter coach José Mourinho, captain Javier Zanetti and top scorer Diego Milito.

There are more data that support the imprint: as in Diego’s time, Napoli kills the powerful. Below are the top 10 millionaires according to the International Center for Sports Studies’ (CIES Football Observatory) Football Observatory:

1) Manchester City (England); 2) Barcelona, ​​​​​​Spain); 3) Real Madrid (Spain); 4) Arsenal (England); 5) Chelsea (England); 6) Liverpool (England); 7) Bayern Munich (Germany); 8) Paris Saint-Germain (France); 9) Manchester United (England); 10) RB Leipzig (Germany).

Six of these ten will be able to see Napoli on television. Another paradox of the Champions League 22/23: among the most quoted there is no Italian team. Serie A, on the other hand, has three teams in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Not only that: football also has two teams in the Europa League (Juventus and Roma) and one in the Conference (Fiorentina). This is the league with the most prominence so far this season.