Italy winning the Euro and Argentina triumphing in Copa America have put in motion the idea of a match to commemorate Diego Armando Maradona. FIFA has given their greenlight, and UEFA and CONMENBOL are working on the logistics, TNT Sports reports.
The game would take place either next December or in January 2022. The venue would be the most logical one, the Stadio Maradona in Naples. The Super Cup between the champions of different continents would replace the Confederations Cup. The secondary international tournament ceased to exist in 2019.
The parties are in advanced talks to organize the event. It would qualify as an official competition and not a friendly, SportMediaset informs. Naples’ sports assessor Ciro Borriello told Corriere dello Sport: “The arena belongs to the city. We are fully available to host the match between Italy and Argentina to remember Maradona, the greatest player in the history of football.”
Olé was the first one to come up with the idea. Maradona obviously spent the prime of his career with Napoli, from 1984 to 1991, winning two Scudetto and one UEFA Cup. Italy and Argentina last played an official game in the same stadium in the Semi Final of the 1990 World Cup. The Albiceleste prevailed but lost to Germany in the Final. An alternative location could be the arena named after him in Buenos Aires, in the La Paternal barrio. However, it looks like Naples will be the choice if the project does come to fruition.