Gianinna Maradona pointed out "Matías Morla's plan" for her father "to no longer be"
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Gianinna Maradona alleges a "perfect plan" orchestrated by Matías Morla led to her father Diego Maradona's death.
- She claims Morla, Maradona's former lawyer and representative, manipulated commercial rights and exploited his power over the football legend.
- Gianinna testified in the second trial regarding her father's death, expressing deep sadness and the difficulty of facing the accused.
The tragic passing of football icon Diego Armando Maradona continues to cast a long shadow, and his daughter Gianinna Maradona has come forward with powerful accusations, alleging a deliberate scheme that led to her father's demise. Speaking with a measured yet emotional tone, Gianinna detailed her conviction that a "perfect plan" was executed, implicating Matías Morla, Maradona's former lawyer and representative, as the architect of this alleged plot.
The plan of Morla for my dad to no longer be here, he executed it perfectly by doing Sattvica, transferring all the brands to himself and three years later saying they were for my aunts; it's ridiculous.
Gianinna's testimony paints a grim picture of exploitation, asserting that Morla systematically consolidated valuable commercial rights under his control through a company called Sattvica. She contends that Morla wielded immense power over her father, making decisions that were detrimental to Maradona's well-being, particularly in his final years. The accusation is stark: Morla allegedly "wanted to kill" Maradona, using his influence to manipulate situations and force the ailing football legend into fulfilling commitments, a scenario Gianinna contrasts sharply with the care she believes would have been provided by Maradona's former manager, Guillermo Coppola.
He had the power to have Maradona. And he did whatever he wanted with that power. It was the plan. I can't think of it correctly. They wanted to kill him.
Her words carry the weight of profound grief and a relentless pursuit of justice. Gianinna, who testified in the second trial concerning the circumstances of her father's death on November 25, 2020, spoke of the immense emotional toll such proceedings take. Having already testified in a previous trial that was ultimately annulled, she described feeling more secure this time, yet acknowledged that one can never be fully prepared for such an ordeal. The pain of her father's absence is palpable, a sentiment shared deeply by her sister Dalma and their siblings.
I know that Guillermo Coppola would never have done in his life what he did, sending my dad to fulfill a contract no matter what, when he couldn't even walk or stand up or adjust a mask.
From an Argentine perspective, the legacy of Diego Maradona is sacred, and any suggestion of foul play or exploitation strikes at the heart of national sentiment. Gianinna's accusations, voiced publicly and in a judicial context, resonate deeply within a country that views Maradona not just as a footballer but as a national icon. While Western media might focus on the legal intricacies, for Argentinians, this is a deeply personal tragedy intertwined with national pride. Gianinna's courage in speaking out, despite the emotional cost, underscores the profound love and loyalty she holds for her father, and the unwavering demand for truth and accountability in the face of what she perceives as a calculated betrayal.
The sadness is absolute. No matter how much we demand justice for my dad, he is not coming back and that is what affects us the most, both Dalma and me and my siblings.
Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.