In Rome, in the courtroom of the trial against former manager Stefano Ceci for aggravated defamation, a new chapter has unfolded in the long and painful story that continues to revolve around the name of Diego Armando Maradona. The champion's ex-wife, Claudia Villafañe, and daughters Dalma and Giannina explained to the judge the weight of Ceci's words in the October 30, 2021, interview, given amid the controversy surrounding the Pibe de Oro's image rights.
According to the three women, those statements are not only inaccurate, but damaging, "terrible," capable of reopening wounds that have never stopped bleeding. Villafañe, assisted by lawyer Francesco Caroleo Grimaldi, explained how any statement about her is immediately reverberated around the world, amplifying the suffering and casting a shadow over the role of family in the champion's life. She firmly rejected the idea of having stolen memorabilia belonging to Maradona, recalling that, after the separation, those objects remained in his home and that an Argentine judge recognized them as his own.
The interview at the centre of the trial contains harsh words: Ceci defined as “parasites” those who exploited Maradona while alive and, according to him, would continue to do so after his death. Added to this was the story of Diego being forced to move house several times "only to then go and die in the jungle." These statements, according to the family, are unsubstantiated and paint a distorted picture of the champion's final years.
Dalma and Giannina, who also spoke in court, explained how, immediately after their father's death, they discovered the existence of a contract between Maradona and Ceci regarding image rights. The former manager claimed to have set aside funds intended for his heirs, funds which, they declared, never arrived. This lack of funds continues to fuel suspicion, tension, and an ever-evolving legal battle.
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