One year after his death, Maradona does not rest in peace

AdvertisementAdvertisement By Débora ReyAssociated Press | Nov 24, 2021at10:02 AM

BUENOS AIRES — The silence that surrounds the tomb contrasts with the deafening noise that was his life.

Diego Maradona, one of the greatest soccer players in history, is buried next to his parents in sector A of the Jardín Bella Vista private cemetery, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, since a cardiorespiratory arrest caused the death of age 60 on November 25, 2020.

Except for direct family members and staff at the cemetery—located in a humble neighborhood of low houses—no one can go near his grave, a strange paradox for a popular idol who spent most of his life surrounded by fans.

Nothing indicates that the remains of the most famous Argentine in history rest there. The only reference is on the other side of the leafy grove near the cemetery: a mural that portrays episodes of his career, such as the second goal against England in the Mexico 86 World Cup, and a message: "We all wanted a bit of him, but it was he who took a little from us.”

While the "Maradonians" still cry, his dissipated life continues to take its toll one year after his death. Two paternity claims are pending in court; His recognized children are waiting for an inheritance that is not known with certainty how much it amounts to and a Cuban woman recently denounced that she was raped by the former soccer player.

At the same time, an investigation is still underway to determine if Maradona died of natural causes or was a victim of medical negligence.

Inheritance

Maradona has five recognized heirs: Dalma, Gianinna, Diego Fernando, Jana and Diego Junior. The first three were born from stable couples of the former player, who recognized them immediately. The rest are extramarital children and it was justice, through DNA tests, which determined Maradona's paternity.

There are two other claims pending filed by women claiming to be Maradona's daughters. At the request of justice, several DNA samples from Diez were kept in order to respond to present and future lawsuits.

Maradona's succession has not concluded because it is not known how much his fortune amounts to.

On December 19, an auction of properties, high-end cars and objects from his personal collection is scheduled, from T-shirts, boots and equipment for physical exercises, according to the detail released by the Adrián Mercado Subastas Group, in charge of the operation. The proceeds will be distributed among the recognized children.

The heirs also initiated legal actions against the lawyer Matías Morla, the last representative of Diez, for ownership of the Maradona brand.

The abuses

The Cuban Mavys Álvarez testified before the Argentine court last week that during the almost five years of relationship with Maradona on the island, the former soccer player subjected her to physical and sexual violence and introduced her to drug addiction. At that time, she was a minor.

The love bond arose in 2000 when the star traveled to Cuba invited by Fidel Castro to treat his addiction to cocaine after suffering an overdose that left him on the brink of death.

She also maintained that in 2001 she was brought to Buenos Aires without the consent of her parents for Maradona's farewell party. During her stay, according to her story, she underwent a breast implant operation against her will at the insistence of the star himself. Since entry into the country would have been irregular, the Argentine justice system began a preliminary investigation for alleged human trafficking for sexual purposes against relatives of the former player.

“It is hard to be in your country, to see that you are everywhere. That he is an idol and at the same time everything I remember about him as a person feels ugly, ”said Álvarez after confirming his version in court.

Maradona cannot be judged, but Álvarez's statement opened the debate: can the great footballer be separated from the man he was?

"It also seems controversial to me the fact that a person who has this type of behavior is followed," said the young Argentine singer and songwriter Nicki Nicole. “Would you listen to an artist who is an abuser? I don't".

The cause of his death

Seven health professionals are accused of alleged homicide with eventual intent in the legal case investigating the death of Maradona. Among them the neurosurgeon and family doctor of the "10", Leopoldo Luque; the psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov; the psychologist Carlos Díaz (29) and two nurses who took care of the patient at the time of his death in a house on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

The accusation is based on the report of an interdisciplinary medical board according to which Maradona did not receive adequate medical attention for a high-risk patient with a body punished by drug and alcohol addiction.

Several witnesses testified that in the days prior to his death he was depressed, did not eat and refused to receive medication.

In the book “La salud de Diego”, the journalist and doctor Nelson Castro stated that Maradona was buried “without his heart” apparently to preserve fundamental evidence in the investigation into his death. Neither justice nor the family denied the author of the book published a few days ago.

The case will be brought to trial in the coming months.

THE MOST VIEWED

"No one is going to return my father to me, I have it clear, but minimal, justice," demanded Dalma Maradona, one of her daughters.

photos