The silence that surrounds the tomb contrasts with the deafening noise that was his life.
Diego Maradona, one of the greatest footballers in history, has been buried with his parents in sector A of the Jardin Bella Vista private cemetery, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, since a cardio-respiratory arrest caused the death of the 60 years old on November 25, 2020.
Except for direct relatives and staff of the cemetery – nestled in a humble neighborhood of low houses – no one can approach 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 lush grove that surrounds 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 bit of us. “
While the “Maradonians” still mourn him, his dissipated life continues to pay bills a year after his death. Two paternity claims are pending in court; his recognized children await 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.
In turn, an investigation is still pending to determine whether Maradona died of natural causes or was the victim of medical negligence.
THE HERITAGE
Maradona has five recognized heirs: Dalma, Gianinna, Diego Fernando, Jana and Diego Junior. The first three were born to stable partners of the former player, who recognized them immediately. The remainder are extramarital children and it was justice, using DNA tests, that determined Maradona’s paternity.
There are two other pending claims filed by women claiming to be Maradona’s daughters. At the request of justice, several DNA samples from the Ten were saved in order to respond to present and future demands.
Maradona’s succession has not ended 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, ankle boots and equipment to do 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 the Diez, for the ownership of the Maradona brand.
THE ABUSES
Cuban Mavys Álvarez declared before the Argentine courts last week that during the almost five years of her 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 affair emerged in 2000 when the star traveled to Cuba at the invitation of Fidel Castro to treat his cocaine addiction after suffering an overdose that left him on the brink of death.
He also argued that in 2001 she was brought to Buenos Aires without the consent of her parents for the party fired from Maradona. During her stay, according to the story, she underwent a breast implant operation against her will at the insistence of the star himself. As the entry into the country would have been irregular, the Argentine justice initiated a preliminary investigation for alleged human trafficking for sexual purposes against close friends of the former player.
“It is hard to be in your country, to see that it is everywhere. That he is an idol and at the same time everything I remember about him as a person feels ugly, “said Álvarez after ratifying his version in court.
Maradona cannot be judged, but Álvarez’s statement opened the debate: can the great footballer separate 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 do not”.
THE CAUSE FOR HIS DEATH
Seven health professionals are charged with alleged murder with intentional intent in the judicial case investigating the death of Maradona. Among them the neurosurgeon and general practitioner of the “10”, Leopoldo Luque; the psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov; the psychologist Carlos Díaz (29) and two nurses who cared for the patient at the time of his death in a house on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
The indictment is based on the report of an interdisciplinary medical board according to which Maradona did not receive adequate medical care for a high-risk patient with a body punished for drug and alcohol addiction.
Several witnesses testified that in the days before his death he was depressed, did not eat and refused to receive medication.
In the book “Diego’s health”, the journalist and doctor Nelson Castro affirmed that Maradona was buried “without a heart” apparently to preserve a fundamental evidence in the investigation into his death. Neither the justice nor the family denied the car of the book published a few days ago.
The case will be brought to trial in the coming months.
“Nobody is going to give me back my father, I have it clear, but minimal, justice,” demanded Dalma Maradona, one of his daughters.
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