Like many in the world, French President Emmanuel Macron lamented the death of Maradona and published a text demonstrating his knowledge of the game and more than a bit of poetic sensitivity. Forty-five lines in which he traces the profile of the man today recognized as the best soccer player of all time. In the next to last paragraph, however, it seems as if a strange air enters his writing through some opening and quickens his pulse: “Diego Maradona,” writes Macron,” will also live on in popular joy in other fields. But his visits to Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez will leave a bitter taste of defeat; it is on the field where Maradona made the revolution.”
The statement has the effect of a gunshot in the middle of a concert.
How is it possible to spoil his style this way?
Does the President know anything about the human relations Maradona shared with Fidel and Chávez?
We Cubans know them very well, and thus we have the right to be offended.
We can start by clarifying that these relations were not “visits,” since the meetings were repeated over the course of many years, at any time of the day or night. Encounters during which the mutual admiration of brothers was evident cannot be described as visits.
All the images, words, statements inside and outside the country – many over a long period of time – are very well remembered and, since the death of the Argentinean star, of current interest around the world, where they are recalled as a testimony of an unconditional brotherhood, because Maradona not only identified with the causes of the humble inherent in any Revolution that respects itself, but also defended them until the last minute of his life.
Why then offend the memory of our number 10 and assert that these visits will leave a “bitter taste of defeat?”
Bitter taste for whom, and from what point of view?
Why recognize Maradona’s revolution only on the field and not beyond?
With the greatest respect for President Macron, we must remind him that there are plenty of examples related to these sincere friendships that will go down in history without idle comment, examples that – as Voltaire said – “correct much better than reprimands.”
(Taken From Granma)