A graphic novel on the life of Maradona, out now

A new 208-page graphic novel by Italian author Paolo Castaldi titled 'Diego Armando Maradona' hit the stands on the pibe de oro's 52nd birthday, October 30. Published by Becco Giallo, the book by the young graphic artist, who hails from Milan but whose heart beats for Napoli AC, tells the life story of Maradona from his childhood kicking the ball around with the kids from his working class suburb of Villa Fiorito to his entry into Boca Juniors, to Barcelona, Napoli and the Argentine national team. Divided into 11 chapters like the number of players in a football team, it dedicates an entire chapter, titled 'Mano de Dios,' to the 1986 World Cup, in which Maradona took his country to the top with what many enthusiasts call the most beautiful goal in history. A significant part of the book covers the relationship between Maradona and Napoli, including his famous quote upon being officially introduced at Naples' San Paolo stadium on July 5, 1984: ''I want to become the idol of the kids of Naples, because they are the way I used to be in Buenos Aires.'' The book tells the rise and fall and rise and many falls of Maradona, told in the gripping style that Castaldi displayed in his previous graphic novel 'Etenesh': the true story of the infernal voyage of an Ethiopian migrant, from Addis Abeba to Lampedusa.