Barça and Naples: Diego Maradona between the worlds

Mortals can already be relieved in reverence when they play in front of kings, but also applies to gods?

The final of the Copa del Rey, on May 5, 1984, graduated from the eyes of "Rey" Juan Carlos to an animal brawl. In the middle: Diego Armando Maradona. Whether he simply forgot his good manners or never had to be done in truth.

After all, he should have destroyed the trophy vitrins of the Catalans in a rush break, which then had enough of their insane genius - and the mad genius had enough of them. A little later was the "Pibe de Oro", the Goldboy, at Barça story.

To the legend, Maradona, when arriving in 1982 as the world's best players, had not made in Camp Nou. Although he was right in his first season and striker he was not - in 35 games on 23 goals and 18 templates came and the FCB led to Ligapokal like Copa del Rey. With gala appearances against Real Madrid, whose attachment even applauded him in the Bernabeu as the first Barça player.

Goikoetxeas Next occurs: Troublemaker Maradona in the Copa Del Rey Final 1984. Imago Images / Marca

Whether it had happened differently if he had not been changed twice for a hepatitis disease and ankle fracture, which Bilbaos had inflicted "butcher" Andoni Goikoetxea? What had to be ground according to the provocations in the 1984 Cup final.

So the very simply raised Maradona just thought, who was with his Barça debut - with SV Meppen (!) \ - With SVM coach Hans-Dieter Schmidt ("Diego was so ground-earth, the counter-design to Bernd Schuster") on the Bratwurststand while the other stars had long since disappeared in the team bus. The simple "Pibe" and the Piekeins Catalans, that just did not fit.

That that just did not fit, you could have thought as the exceptional councilor then banned the SSC Naples, which would almost have risen weeks before. But in the poor Italian South Maradona was the same - it fit right away.

About Eskapaden, who inevitably settled with Maradona, saw them in Napoli. Because your Savior was raised; because he cynically the big annoyed; Because not only Argentina took the world champion in 1986, but a year later also the "dirty" Naples led to the top of the best league in Europe. Alone in alone.

Early early young Neapolitans are familiar with the "Maradonismo". AFP Via Getty Images

The rich northern club from Milan and Turin shot a long nose, brought his poor people under Vesuv's so longed Scudetto. And one more. And the UEFA Cup. The Robin Hood from Napoli.

Would the well-talented of all footballers shot even more goals and can celebrate even more titles when playing longer in Barcelona or another top club? For sure. Had he avoided the drug world and physically not so early? Quite possible. But would he have become happy there?

Together they have created something special, Maradona and the Neapolitans, who not only worshiped him like a deity because he was the best football player in the world. But also the identification figure he could never have been in Barcelona.

"We lack the money for houses, schools, buses, jobs and sanitary facilities - but all this does not matter, because we have Maradona," a newspaper said the day after the championship the simple people from the soul. And so they still feel today, even if Diego is no longer under the mortal.