Diego Armando Maradona is visiting clubs around England to meet with some of his key players. Although Maradona was there to meet with Carlos Tevez, he was received with great enthusiasm by the rest of the squad.

“We were like schoolkids really, around a star coming to school,” Ferdinand said.

Ferdinand, who marked his 30th birthday by receiving a signed shirt from the Co-FIFA Player of the Century, explains how all of his teammates were eager to impress the new Argentina boss.

“He came and watched us train and I think the gaffer would probably like him to come every day the way he raised standards in the training. Everyone was trying to impress him.”
“I hope he will go back to Argentina and say he’s seen a great player – Rio Ferdinand!”

Ferdinand, who seemed to be the most excited continued “He is one of my heroes, if not the shining beacon when I was a kid. I had all his videos and he was the player everyone wanted to be,” he said.
“You can’t hold him in higher esteem than that so to be able to shake his hand, get a cuddle of him and a picture – it made my birthday.”

I can understand how Maradona could have such an impact on the United players, but I find it hard to imagine Rio or Wayne getting all excited about Maradona coming to watch them train. They are world class players themselves, they are the players kids want to be now.

But Maradona is Maradona and despite his dark private life, he is one of the best players to ever play the beautiful game.

Tags: , , ,