Alemao, A.; former Midfielder who Achieve victory in Serie A with Naples in 1990 Along with legendary legend Diego Maradona, he deeply regretted not having his friend come to celebrate the team’s triumphant return to glory 33 years after its predecessor achievement.
“It is a pity that Diego is not here,” 61-year- An old Brazilian told AFP (AFP) in Interview in his hometown of lavras, in Southeast state of Minas Gerais.
Vision of Naples win Third Scudetto in club history “Will be made He’s really happy – the party would have been complete, Alemao said.
“He deserved it live longer than he did.”
Argentinian greatand who He died in 2020 at the age of 60, he led Napoli to first two addresses, in 1987 and 1990 win eternal love of the club’s fans.
On Thursday, Italy’s Napoli snatched away league Title for the first time since then, in What many call new golden age under coach Luciano Spalletti.
Napoli has been one of the runners-up in Serie A-up in four of the past 10 seasons – “good Alemaw said by a team This “never quite managed, for various Reasons: they needed more Depth on the bencha play-maker in the midfield. “
But “they worked on And now they’ve pulled it off off,” He said.
Just don’t ask him to put it on current star Khvisha Kvaratskhelia of Georgia on Same pedestal as “El Diego” – there’s no comparison, Alemao said.
Maradona was a genius.
Huge privilege
Ricardo Rogerio de Brito – Alemao real The name – still flows when talking about Napoli’s 1989-90 brilliance team.
Besides Maradona and himself, there was a Brazilian national among them international Careca and Italian stars Ciro Ferrara, Andrea Carnevale and Gianfranco Zola.
“We were very tight team captain maradona, with a lot of Positive leadership. He always believed we were going to win, he always motivated everyone and that was very important.”
“play with It was a huge privilege. I miss those days. It was amazing to be with the best in the world. “
alimao, who game for Brazil in World Cup 1986 and 1990, joined Naples in 1988, after starting his professional career in Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro and Atletico Madrid.
He, Maradona and Careca – the team’s only foreigners – formed a tight knit group both of them on And off dirty.
fans in Naples did not worship them just for charm them with the ballbut for personifies pride of poor south city treat sometimes with Contempt for the rich in Italy north.
“It always was hard playing far matches. People were really aggressive. We were treated like aliens, with banners Connection us “Africans, as if that was an insult,” Alemao said.
“But that just made us more powerful.”
Fateful coin
Alemao played a memorable match role – though he will just like soon forget that – in Cardiac arrest race Between Napoli and Milan, Arrigo Sacchi for 1990 title.
with four matches left And Milan leading them to a point in the league table, and it was Neapolitan playing away in atalanta when someone tossed a coin from the stands and hit Alemao on the head.
He was taken to the hospital, and the officials received an award match – who drew 0-0 – against Napoli, 2-0.
Meanwhile, Milan tied against Bologna.
Naples jumped to first place And he never looked back.
It was never completely clear just how Alemao was hurt badly under his golden curls, if at all.
Today, downplay the incident.
“We haven’t even done that need Those points (against Atlanta) in the end. we won the matches We need that.”
“But Milan felt pressure… and that made Things easier for us,” I confess.
Now, A.J new Bring the title generation back To Naples, which fans We will forever remember not only Kvaratskhelia but the whole of it team Alemao said as champions – just like 1990 team.
As much as the Neapolitans adore Maradona, they always remember everything of us Very proudly.”
“they know everyone team They did it together.”
