The hidden side of the day Maradona met Pelé

To understand the value of that first meeting, it is necessary to understand the time in which it took place and the changes that the passage of time caused in the two characters, in the media, in technology and in the transformation of football into an incomparable mass phenomenon. . There was no internet, there were no cell phones and famous soccer players were stars but not divos. Even that Pelé already retired and made a myth at 39 years old. Even that Maradona who was about to turn 19.

The meeting in Pelé's apartment in Copacabana was on Monday, April 9, 1979, but it took place in the summer, in Uruguay. Maradona was a member of the Argentine Youth who played in the South American Sub 20 that won the place for the World Cup that the Selection led by César Luis Menotti, with Ernesto Duchini at his side, would obtain in Japan, in August.

That youth squad had a day off and Diego left Montevideo for the beaches of Atlántida with Don Diego, Doña Tota and their representative Jorge Cyterszpiler. The group was joined by Guillermo Blanco, a journalist for El Gráfico and then Diego's press officer in the Barcelona stage until the early days of Napoli, when the star changed representatives and Guillermo Coppola landed.

"Look at dad, look at dad," Diego told Blanco as he watched his father wallow in the sand and become Milanese, like a baby. Doña Tota wore the same baton that she used in Fiorito. It can be said that it was the first vacation for Diego's parents. "He doesn't work anymore, I already told him he's not going to work anymore," Diego repeated to Blanco while they were chatting about soccer until, suddenly, Diego blurted out the phrase: "How I would like to meet Pelé."

White saw the note. journalist's nose

Diego knew who Pele was, of course. But he was not fully aware of who Pele was. Due to a matter of age, he had not seen Santos and he was just dazzled by the 1970 World Cup. Instead, he was seduced by Rivelino, whom he had seen play in the tournament in Mexico but also the 1974 World Cup in Germany and in the still-fresh World Cup. from Argentina 78. Diego used the 10, he asked for the 10, for Pelé. But he also looked at Rivelino because he was left-handed like him.

Upon returning from Uruguay, Blanco proposed the meeting at an editing meeting of El Gráfico. Of course he accepts himself. And he is silent. From the Azopardo street newsroom they contacted the Brazilian journalist Darlys Batista, who had a good arrival at Pelé. When Pelé finds out, he immediately agrees. When Maradona receives the news that he could travel to Rio, he puts one condition: the meeting had to be on a Monday. He didn't say why. He would confess it to Blanco on the return plane.

On Sunday 8 Argentinos played with Huracán and Maradona came out sensed by a kick from Carlos Babington. Justo Babington, who didn't hit anyone, had had the bad luck of hitting him hard. In the locker room, the president of Argentinos, Próspero Cónsoli, asked the 10 how he felt. Diego told him that it hurt a little. Cónsoli told him: "Well, you have free tomorrow, rest and recover." Then Diego replied: "No, not tomorrow, I'm going to see Pele." Cónsoli was absorbed, but he remained silent.

Diego, Don Diego, Cyterszpiler, Blanco and the unforgettable photojournalist Ricardo Alfieri traveled to Rio. In the return to Ezeiza, Diego complained about the blow. Upon arriving in the city of Rio de Janeiro, the group stayed at the Palace hotel. Double room for journalists, triple room for Diego, his father and his representative. Simple rooms. No luxury.

At three in the morning the phone in Blanco's room rings. It was Cyterszpiler. White trembled.

- What happened, George?

-Nothing Guille... It's just that Diego is thirsty and asks if he can get a Coca Cola from the ice cream shop.

The group of Argentines arrived punctually at Pelé's apartment. After a while the Brazilian entered with a smile from ear to ear. There was tension among the visitors, they did not know what could happen. They were before a world star. Diego knew it, but he knew it less than his companions. Pelé did a genius like the ones he did on the playing fields.

He entered the living room. He dodged Alfieri, whom he knew. Alfieri began to cry when he saw the brunette. Pelé dribbled Diego. He barely gestured to Blanco. And he hugged Don Diego tight. "How is dad?". The ice had broken, the fears had disappeared.

Diego, his father and Pelé sat in the long chair. In a small one, Alfieri. In another, White. Don Diego smiled. Pele spoke. Diego just listened. They talked about soccer. Pelé said that he had read that he had scored a goal with his hand. Maradona agreed. It had been against Newell's on the date before the game with Huracán.

Some time later, Juan Simón, Pelusa's teammate in the Sub 20, told a slightly different version: "He lowered it with his hand and then finished off," he said. That play was not, then, premonitory of "The hand of God." Diego told him that he had received criticism for that move. Pele laughed: "But don't worry... that's the referees' problem." That was indeed a premonitory of what would happen seven years later at the Azteca stadium.

Pelé took the guitar. And he sang a samba for her from the record that had gone on sale a few days before. Over the years, on La Noche del 10, Pelé also sang another song for Diego, this time composed especially for him.

Old fox, seasoned man, knowing everything that football was (is), Pelé gave Diego some advice: "Take care of your body, rest. There is time to have a drink, to go out at night, to smoke a cigarette. ..but everything with balance". Diego listened.

The farewell came and Diego gave him a ball and a shirt. Pelé gave him some watches that bore his brand "to give to your brothers." They said hi.

In the shuttle that took the five Argentines to the El Galeao airport, Blanco remembered the two times that Maradona had postponed the trip. Only then did Diego tell her: "It's just that we have a day off on Mondays. And Mondays are for Claudia."

The most curious thing is that such a note was not on the cover of El Gráfico that he chose to give to Victor Galíndez, brand new world champion, on its cover. The interview improved over time, like good wines. And today it is a classic. Pelé and Maradona also did not charge a dollar for the note. Those were other times, as noted.

Two years later, with Boca already champion, the team went to play a tournament in the Ivory Coast. Blanco was the only journalist to cover that tour. On a stopover in Lagos, Maradona confessed to him: "I'm tired of football, of all that. I'm going to stop playing."

Of course, it was published in El Gráfico. Pelé read what Diego was saying and wrote him a letter. Like a surrogate father, like a close uncle. He told him not to do it, that he thought that soccer needed him, that he had a lot to give and that he would be very successful in his career.

Then came the after. Diego was already more of a Maradona character than Diego Pelusa. The media helped with the silly comparisons of him when our 10th accumulated feats in Napoli and won the 1986 World Cup. Strong statements were exchanged. The thing about "he debuted with a kid", certain slights from Pelé to Diego's quality as a player. There was peace on the night of the 10th. Life went on. Until it's over. Pelé deeply regretted the death of Maradona. He perhaps warned that, due to age, his end was also approaching. Until the ball finally stopped and O Rei also left.

We are left with the story of that first time. Forever.

To understand the value of that first meeting, it is necessary to understand the time in which it took place and the changes that the passage of time caused in the two characters, in the media, in technology and in the transformation of football into an incomparable mass phenomenon.