Pic: Stuart Tree
YOU would have thought things couldn’t get much more surreal than Diego Maradona scoring for Corinthian-Casuals. Until you discover his brother is called Michel Platini!
The man who shares one of football‘s most famous names didn’t have to change his by deed poll after losing a bet.
No, the Ryman South club have got themselves the real deal. Like the Argentina icon, he wears number ten and the similarities don’t stop there – a lethal left-foot a lot like the 1986 World Cup winner, he can carry the ball and certainly knows where the net is.
But he’s Brazilian, and you certainly wouldn’t find the original getting excited about playing for the Casuals for free whilst having to travel from Oxfordshire to London three times a week for the privilege.
He told The NLP: “My first name is Diego, my middle name is Maradona and my family name is Petriaggi. In Brazil we rarely use our last names so this is me!
Platini
“My father is a very big lover of football. As soon as my parents had children it was always the plan to name us after great former players. Let’s say my mum didn’t have a choice!
“My two brothers are Michel Platini and Rivellino, who was, of course, a player for Brazil in the 1970s. They play too, in fact we were all together at one stage playing for Brescia. I play in the same position on the pitch as Maradona but I know I’m not as good as he is.”
He scored on debut against Met Police in the Geoff Harvey Tournament last Sunday, and there aren’t many footballers who would describe a four-hour round trip to play in Step 4 for an amateur club as “a dream come true”.
But Maradona has his reasons. The 27-year-old is big on his history, and growing up supporting the famous Corinthians he knows all too well the connection between both the Tolworth-based team and the Brazilian heavyweights.
“I have always wanted to play in England but not like some who only want the Premier League,” he adds. “I wanted to come here to learn English and also to play where I can as I build a new life.
“I have been all around the world for football; Sao Caetano, Ceilandia, Valeriodoce, in Malta for Mosta and Sannat Lions. Last year I came here and played in the Hellenic League for Ardley United. But I got a message from James Bracken on the way to my wedding on May 9 inviting me.
“He explained he was taking over as manager – this was a very good day as this club is so special and so important to Corinthians and our history.
“It was also a very good day because I got married to Amanda, of course!”
