Rivellino remembers his friendship with Maradona: "It raised my name even further"

- By Lucas Barreiros/Central do Timão Editorial

Idol of Corinthians, the Seleção and one of the greatest players in the history of football, Roberto Rivellino recalled, in an exclusive interview with Central do Timão, the friendship he built with Diego Maradona over the years. The black and white star told how he learned about the Argentine's admiration for his football, recalled memorable encounters between the two and spoke about the affection he received from the legendary attacking midfielder.

According to Rivellino, the first time he heard about Maradona was through César Luis Menotti, world champion coach with Argentina in 1978. At the time, the Brazilian was participating in an event with a team made up of South American players when he received an invitation to meet the young man who was beginning to emerge in Argentine football.

Reproduction
"It was fantastic, right? Because I went to play a game in Paraguay once. A mix of teams, these South American things. And Menotti was coach of that team. He arrived and said, Rivellino, there's a boy who loves you. He was starting, Maradona. And there was a game in Argentina. He invited me. 'Don't you want to go there and play?' Wouldn't you like it? I said, well, I would like to, but I don't have the means, Menotti... Unfortunately, I won't have the means to go to Argentina."

Over the years, the two ended up getting closer. Rivellino revealed that he always noticed great admiration from the Argentine, something that was evident in several meetings they had.

"And he really had an affection for me, which was crazy. He was sitting here, the three of us, talking. He was talking to Maradona and Maradona was like this... looking at me (laughs)."

"I went to a program there in 14, in Rio, and Maradona had a program in Venezuela. And he invited me, the presenter was there, then he opened, the presenter passed the ball, he and I were left, talking. Suddenly, the guy turned around and said that time was up. So, we spent more than an hour talking", he recalled.

"Impressive. And he had affection for me, he hugged me, kissed me... I know how far I've come. Maradona, I think he elevated my name even more."

Recalling the friendship built with the Argentine star, Rivellino made a point of highlighting Maradona's human qualities, in addition to the talent he demonstrated on the field.

"He was a wonderful person. I was at a Carnival with him, where he went crazy. But they were really good people. Very good people. Too bad, too bad it was. And he played, right? He played the ball a lot."

The former player also commented on the comparisons often made between Maradona and Pelé. For Rivellino, despite the Argentine's genius, the King of Football occupies a unique position in the history of the sport, and he even said this to the Argentine football star himself.

"So, until I told him: 'you don't compare yourself to Pelé, forget about Pelé. Forget about Pelé. Pelé is from another world, forget about it. But you played a lot, Maradona'. Really, you played a lot. Like Messi, he plays a lot. Cristiano Ronaldo is a type of game that I respect, but I don't like it very much. I already like Messi more, Maradona. In the way he plays."

When remembering Maradona, Rivellino highlighted not only one of the greatest players he saw play, but also the friendship he maintained with the Argentine until the last years of his life. For the Corinthians idol, the affection shown by Argentina's number 10 remains one of the most special memories of his career in football.

The post Rivellino remembers his friendship with Maradona: "He raised my name even further" first appeared on Central do Timão.

The content Rivellino remembers his friendship with Maradona: "It raised my name even more" appears first in Central do Timão.

Source: Timao Central