The people of Naples will always remember Diego Maradona’s tenure there. For Diego and Napoli, it seemed like love at first sight in some manner. During Maradona’s stay in Italy, murals, logos, and even businesses were created.
A mural of Maradona and his daughter Dalma can be found in the Paradiso di Soccavo training centre, serving as one such “shrine” for Maradona.
2006 Ballon d’Or winner and Italy World Cup champion Fabio Cannavaro hopes to “bring life back” to the iconic restaurant after it has declined over time.
It is a hallowed location. I played football growing up, so it’s a really strong feeling. I could spend hours discussing the days when Maradona’s magnificent Naples was present. “The objective is to revitalise this area, regain vitality, and employ cutting-edge materials to construct a long-lasting building,” Cannavaro stated in remarks to Corriere del Mezzogiorno, an Italian news outlet, following the Paradiso Center’s grand opening.
In order to preserve the Diego aura in that location in the Soccavo area of northeast Naples, the former player of the Neapolitan institution chose to purchase it after Napoli went bankrupt and had to give up possession 19 years prior.
The aforementioned portrait was turned into a postcard that was painted on murals across the globe. Diego started to trot with the flowers pinned to his legs until two-year-old Dalma decided to adorn her father’s socks with daisies before practise that day.
“I know it is hard to get kids out of the house because of video games and other technologies, but my dream is to see kids playing here and to provide a facility for young people.” “I want to start an academy here so I can teach football fundamentals and help shape the future,” Cannavaro declared.
There’s a lot to do, I’m not sure when the deadlines are, and it’s been closed for 20 years. Even though we have only been cleaning for two months, I am quite pleased with myself because it took me fifteen years to purchase this building. The idea is to repair the pitch, establish a football school and organise football matches for the neighborhood’s kids. I’m quite thrilled about that,” he continued.