Maradona`s Story 7

The idea belonged to Gringo Giusti, but anyone could have come up with it. With his manager suit on, this Diego’s former national team-mate was in the stadium watching a Newell’s match. The game was boring and not at all transcendental, when he looked at Tota Rodriguez and said: "This club needs an effective strike and I know the only person capable of doing it." That same person was, of course, football’s very own surname: Maradona. That seemed to be the best destiny. A city that breaths and lives for football was waiting for him. Everyone in Rosario was following his steps, even the fans of Rosario Central, Newell’s archrival, forgave him for playing in that team. "Let’s save Maradona, leprosy can heal", they would say ironically.Enthusiastic as a beginner, he began one of the most strict diets in his life. He lost 12 kilograms, thanks to a Chinese man whose name is very hard to remember: Liu Guo Cheng.On Monday September 13th, 1993, Independence Park burst with life. Anxiety was everywhere. It was an unrepeatable evening. Thirty thousand people were about to witness a miracle. Maradona dressed in red and black. His small body appeared in the field, and he felt that he could not coordinate his movements. He received an incredible ovation that encouraged him to shyly raise up his arms. A ball slid towards him, inviting him to do with it what no one else could imitate. Not even that made him react. His team-mates approached him with great admiration and threw him up high in the sky. His smile was everlasting, like that time, nearly a decade ago in the San Paolo. People had gone just to see him juggling with the ball.Indio Solari gave him all the comforts he needed. Eight years, ten months and eight days had passed for his return to Argentina to play for an Argentine team. That took place on October 10th, 1993 at Independiente’s Stadium, the very same place where he had watched his first matches and had been delighted with players such as Bochini and Bertoni.He showed his enthusiasm and quality in some of his trade marked plays. No one will forget that marvelous kick that the goalkeeper Islas saved miraculously. That one won’t be his last.Even when his time in the club was very short and that the story seemed to be unfinished, not a single Newell’s fan could ever regret having him amongst them, even though it was for just five games.