From shouting champion with Maradona to living on the street: the story of the Napoli player who organized Diego’s historic fight in the mud

Pietro Puzone was there. Next to the best Maradona of all time. He saw with his own eyes how Diegoito the champion was assigned to the bustling city of Naples and gave the long -suffering people in southern Italy a una shieldon May 10, 1987, exactly 35 years ago.

He was also there then remembered party to benefit where is he Fluff he became an “idol with mud feet”. In fact, he organized it. A boy from his city, Acerra, has to undergo an expensive operation in France and the meeting between Nápoli and Acerrano is the only way to raise the necessary funds to carry it out.

The images of those afternoons burned in the minds of sports lovers: the best soccer player on the planet playing on a completely bare field, covered in dirt, like his previous races in Fiorito twenty years ago. past.

The fact is that Pietro Puzone occupied a particular place in the history of the Ten. He shouted champion along with the best Maradona and won fortunes by his side as they played in that city where they were considered the true gods. A privilege.

However, everything can change from one moment to another. “With the Scudetto victory in the 86/87 season, at Maradona’s Napoli, I touched the sky and then came my rejection. I lost my way. I was brought to life, I didn’t listen to anyone, I had addiction problems and I lost my home, “the Italian admitted to the news outlet run from here will be at the beginning of the year.

Pietro Puzone he is 59 years old. The former Acerra -born athlete played inferiors at Napoli and made his professional debut in 1981. He was unable to combine himself and roam various clubs on loan. He passed through Cavese, Akragas and Catania. For the 1986/1987 season he rejoined the southern club.

He was part of the historic team that gave Napoli their first championship, even without a few minutes of play. And he also won the Italian Cup, the same season. Then, he returned to Catania, passed through Spezia and retired to Ischia Isolaverde in 1990.

Like many former football players, that moment – retirement – was a respite. An boom of sensations. The drugs crossed the path of Pietrocruzaron and went from shouting champion with Maradona to being homeless and sleeping on a bench in a square.

The former player admitted that they had a lot of “money, women and fans” looking for them anywhere at the time of their sporting success. And that with Maradona he lived a lot of “antics”. It also recalls “Neapolitan nightclubs and restaurants” and “drugs” and “money spent”.

But to overcome his addictions, he decided to go through a “rehabilitation process in a clinic” where he was helped mainly by his “family” and “some friends.”

Pietro passed his darkest stage and was able to get ahead. He set up a bar in his hometown where everyone recognized him and treated him like an old football glory. Feeling important helps with recovery. In addition, it is still linked to the world of rotation: commented on football matches on a local radio.