“Cough Up the Millions Diego” – Platini
According to reports, UEFA President Michel Platini has told Diego Maradona to cough up millions of pounds the Napoli legend owes to the state in tax money. Maradona is wanted in Italy for his tax arrears which apparently run into the millions. Diego Maradona
was one of the wealthiest and well paid players in the world during his time at Napoli.
If reports are to be believed, Maradona wishes to celebrate his 50th birthday in Napoli with his beloved club. His arrival may be tricky with his arrears pending. Platini has warned the number 10 that he won’t be welcome in the country. If he
wants to set foot in the country, then he must pay his taxes. He is a citizen like everyone else.
Italian tax authorities have repeatedly warned the Argentine over his tax arrears over the years but Maradona has failed to cough up the amount citing bankruptcy. He famously gave up a gold watch once to compensate for some of his dues with the concerned
authorities in order to show that money was an issue for him.
Maradona lived a lavish life during his time in Napoli. He admitted in his biography that he once rejected a Mercedes Benz from his door step just because it had a manual gear box. The top executives from the German car manufacturers were also left unattended
as El Diego simply returned to his house and slammed the door on them.
Platini further blasted the Italian Clubs for not being patient with young talent. According to him, clubs in this era expect too much too soon from young players.
"I don't think I would have had the same career as a player if I was playing in this era," he said.
"I came to Italy at 27 and as a player I was mature and ready. Now though they don't even give players time to mature. They take them away from their families and roots expecting them to be champions."
Platini also had time to say a few words to Napoli President De Laurentiis who recently bashed the UEFA Europa league as being unimportant and not worth the effort. "It's not true what De Laurentiis said when he claimed it is not worth anything, Atletico
Madrid won it last time and they made millions from it."
Atletico won last season’s UEFA Europa league and were able to retain star players Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero despite not making it to the Champions League.
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