Maradona has a secret museum and a family in Naples

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The streets widen, begin to steepen and take curves and curves. It takes about 20 minutes from the center of Naples to reach Secondigliano, a popular neighborhood in the north of the city. This is where 'Gomorrah' was filmed.

On one side and the other, buildings, balconies and windows from which clothes hang, drying in the sun at 17 degrees in Neapolitan autumn. Upon arrival, a portrait of Diego Maradona is seen on the brick wall of the facade of an apartment building. It is freshly painted because it was to commemorate the 60th anniversary of '10' last October. Just above, a plaque reads: Club Napoli Saverio Silvio Vignati. There is a wreath of flowers and candles.

Massimo Vignati greets us at the entrance, wearing sunglasses and a mask with the Napoli shield. On entering there is a patio and a glass and iron door to the first apartment block. On the left, some stairs to the basement. A sky blue door and some pictures of Maradona as a saint. A short, narrow corridor, filled to the ceiling with banners, posters, and photos, leads to "the museum."

It is just a windowless room of just under 20 m2 dressed from top to bottom, adorned with soccer memorabilia, shirts, balls, soccer shoes, photos of Maradona, newspaper clippings and even the sofa that belonged to the Argentine player when he lived in the city. Italian.

One of the objects that Massimo likes to show the most is the bench that Maradona sat on when he was a Napoli player from 1984 to 1991. He didn't buy it. His father, Saverio Vignati, was in charge of the San Paolo stadium and especially the changing rooms for 35 years. There he forged a friendship with the Argentine.

Actually, more than a friendship: it was like having found a lost son. During the seven years that the Argentine crack was in that city, the Vignati became his family. The friendship and special affection remain. If Naples has not yet recovered from the loss of his idol, his Neapolitan family much less so. Luisa, Siverio's wife and Massimo's mother, has cried for four whole days.

Objects with a "priceless" value

To be in this museum is to immerse yourself in the history of a city, a club and football. There are several shirts with which the Argentine played, one from Argentinos Juniors, another from Boca, from the albiceleste team and, of course, from Napoli. Also a copy of the transfer contract when Maradona, being a culé player, signed for Napoli.

There is no lack of someone who has proposed to Massimo, -who used to play little football with Diego when he was little, has the familiarity with which he refers to him-, to buy his treasures. He says that a Qatari sheik sent a person to offer him more than 20,000 euros. But he did not give his arm to twist. Diego in this house is family, "these objects have an inestimable value", he affirms while he puts his hand to his heart.

Admission to the museum is free, in fact most visitors are residents of the area. Whenever there is someone visiting, if it is not Massimo or Diego, his eldest son, someone he trusts is always making sure that no one touches the exhibits and, above all, wants to take something home as a souvenir. He is invited to leave a donation that will go to the underprivileged children of the city.

Now that renaming the San Paolo stadium as the Diego Armando Maradona stadium is under discussion, Massimo sees the possibility that this collection will have a place of its own there, where the “cosmic kite” forged part of his legend. He likes the possibility, but he has no desire, he says.

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