Juventus legend Michel Platini reveals he could have played with Diego Armando Maradona at Napoli but admits only one player was better than him.
Platini and Maradona fought to win Scudetto titles back in the 80s with Napoli who won the only two Serie A titles in their history with their legendary no.10.
“We met in Buenos Aires for the first time, it was June 1979,” Platini told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Juventus legend Michel Platini reveals he could have played with Diego Armando Maradona at Napoli but admits only one player was better than him.
Platini and Maradona fought to win Scudetto titles back in the 80s with Napoli who won the only two Serie A titles in their history with their legendary no.10.
“We met in Buenos Aires for the first time, it was June 1979,” Platini told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“The unforgettable Argentina against Rest of the World. Our coach was Enzo Bearzot, there were [Paolo] Rossi, [Marco] Tardelli, [Zibi] Bonier, 1978 Argentina World Cup winners were our opponents, Diego was so young.
“When he arrived, Napoli were on the same level of Juventus for the first time. It would have been impossible before. Diego was a phenomenon but they had built an important team around him. Giordano, Careca and the others.
“Diego had everything, all the mans to be a champion, an extraordinary left foot. A speed that I’ve never had. You don’t become Maradona if you don’t have this means. He was a forward, a support striker, I was more a midfielder, we were different.
“He did a lot for footballers, everyone loved him. He respected everyone on the pitch.
“He was a very kind person in a world that didn’t help him. Everyone said he was sympathetic but maybe they didn’t give him what he really needed."
Platini believes only one player was better than him and that he could have played with him at Napoli
“Don’t ask me to make comparisons, they are nonsense, in life and football. But my idol was Johan Cruijff and so…
“I don’t know [if Agnelli wanted to bring Maradona to Juve] I know that Dal Cine tried to bring me to Napoli.
“[If I had played with him] I would have left him the shirt no 10, I may have chosen the no.20 which is worth double.”