Diego Maradona’s wide-eyed reaction when bad translation suggested he was gay – Daily Star

Diego Maradona’s translator almost caused a stir at the 2010 World Cup after hearing a question about his affection for Argentina players slightly differently.

The 1986 World Cup winning icon returned to the tournament as manager of his country in South Africa and one particular press conference proved to be memorable.

Following a 10-second hug with Carlos Tevez after the forward scored twice in their last 16 win over Mexico, a reporter wanted to ask about his physical displays of affection.

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Having said: “Are you naturally affectionate with everybody?”

In what might well have been a mix-up in the translation, Maradona’s eyes stretched as wide as they did in 1994, before he said: “I like women, I like women.”

He added while shaking his head: “I have a lovely girlfriend, Veronica.”

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Maradona was certainly not coy about his many relationships with women, as he mentioned when talking about his former wife Claudia Villafane.

He said: “I was in love with Claudia but I was no saint. And there were some beautiful women. Oh, so many!”

Rather strangely, Maradona’s agent Guillermo Coppola reportedly installed a two-way mirror inside his apartment so he and their pals could watch the football icon bonking away.

Maradona returned to the Argentina national side as manager in 2008 having been sent home after failing a drug test at the 1994 World Cup, in which he had scored against Greece.

His time as manager saw him pick up 18 wins from 24 fixtures and crash out of the tournament against Germany with a 4-0 quarter-final humbling.

Further managerial spells came in the United Arab Emirates and Mexico before a year back in Argentina with Gimnasia de La Plata before this passing following a cardiac arrest in 2020.

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