Italy Naples quarrels over Maradona cult site: temporary peace?
In Naples, he is revered like a saint. "Dios existe" - God exists - is written on a heart-shaped poster, for example. However, this does not refer to the Almighty, but to the footballer Diego Maradona. The love for the Argentinian-born player is so great that the Italians have erected a monument to their idol in the heart of the southern Italian metropolis: On Largo Maradona - which, however, does not officially exist in Naples' street directory.
19.11.2025, 07:58
SDA
The small square in the middle of the Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarter) is dedicated to the man who played for SSC Napoli from 1984 to 1991 and led the club to two championships. For some years now, Largo Emanuele De Deo - as it is actually called - has been one of the city's biggest tourist attractions.
Today, the narrow alleyways are a veritable fan Eldorado for visitors: street vendors sell all kinds of Maradona memorabilia, from small statues to key rings and jerseys. But five years after the death of the football legend, there is a dispute in Naples about exactly that. Tuesday (November 25) marks the fifth anniversary of Maradona's death.
Maradona portrait covered with a sheet
Basically, the dispute is about the business licenses of the street vendors and snack bar operators there. The dispute escalated in October when the police carried out a large-scale raid on Largo Maradona: Several stalls were confiscated, traders were issued with hefty fines and the forces also confiscated numerous Maradona souvenirs. One stall holder is also alleged to have illegally diverted electricity.
In protest, the operators covered the pilgrimage site with a plastic tarpaulin. Particularly bitter for tourists looking for the typical selfie: the famous Maradona mural, which shows the young Diego in the sky-blue Napoli jersey on a house wall, was also covered up.
The conflict has been simmering for years. Antonio Esposito, also known as "Bostik", had built the site in its current form on private land. For some time, he had been asking the city council for the right permits for the traders. "We've been asking for legalization for years and no one listens to us. Then they come and carry out raids," Esposito said indignantly after the latest operation.
Largo Maradona has long been an important tourism factor
According to him, the dealers only have licenses for mobile street trading and not for permanent businesses. As Largo Maradona is privately managed, the procedures for obtaining the right permits and business licenses are lengthy and, above all, complicated.
After two weeks, public pressure from traders - an important tourism and economic factor - has had an effect. Naples' mayor Gaetano Manfredi, initially unwilling to compromise, was open to negotiations. Several meetings were subsequently held between the city and Esposito with his lawyer Angelo Pisani.
Naples mayor gives in
And indeed, Mayor Manfredi surprisingly announced an agreement in the dispute: The Largo Maradona area is to be transferred to the municipality "to ensure clear rules". Apparently, public pressure has made Manfredi give in. He could no longer ignore the economic importance of the place of worship for his city.
The local authorities estimate that around six million people visited the Quartieri Spagnoli in 2023 - mainly because of Largo Maradona.
By transferring the area to the municipality, it should be easier to issue permits and business licenses for traders. It is not entirely clear how concrete an agreement really is. Officially, a "process" was initially initiated. Exact details are also not known.
New deployments again and again since agreement
However, Manfredi spoke exuberantly of a "new beginning for Largo Maradona". Whether the solution will last remains to be seen. Only recently, some traders were again targeted by the authorities. Residents and tourists watched as officials loaded an entire stand of Napoli jerseys into a transport and confiscated them. The usual souvenirs such as magnets and cell phone covers were also confiscated.
The plastic tarpaulins over the stands and the bed sheet on the Maradona effigy have since disappeared. The move by the city council seems to have appeased the traders - for the time being. Local media in Naples have repeatedly reported on new police operations since the agreement was reached. It shouldn't be long before the mood at Largo Maradona changes again.
