Widely considered one of the best footballers of all time, Diego Maradona’s life has certainly been eventful, with the Argentinian courting controversy both on and off the pitch. Now, a new documentary simply titled ‘Diego Maradona’ focuses on his difficult period in Italy during the 80s, where the price of fame was high.
Directed by Asif Kapadia, the Academy Award-winning director behind ‘Senna’ and ‘Amy’, the feature-length documentary focuses on Maradona’s move to Napoli on 5 July 1984, and the ensuing seven year period where “all hell broke loose” – that despite the club being guided from battling relegation to winning two leagues, a UEFA Cup, and two Italian Cups.
Maradona’s move to Napoli was something of a perfect storm. Undoubtedly blessed on the pitch, he seemed cursed off it, with the city and all its flaws ultimately consuming him. Some knew Diego, but most only knew Maradona. Produced in cooperation with Maradona himself, the documentary utilises over 500 hours of previously unseen footage from his personal archive, granting a glimpse behind the curtain at one of football’s most controversial characters. Definitely one to add to the watch list.
'Diego Maradona' is set to debut at Cannes before hitting cinemas worldwide on 14 June.
