Maradona's former Napoli teammate Pietro Puzone found critically ill and homeless

Pietro Puzone, a former teammate of football legend Diego Maradona at Napoli, is in critical condition and living on the streets of Acerra, Italy, battling addiction.

The 63-year-old, who played alongside Maradona in the 1984/85 season and won a league and cup double with Napoli in 1986/87, has struggled with alcohol and drug addiction for years. These struggles led him to lose everything and end up homeless. While the municipality of Acerra provided some assistance during the pandemic and afterward, Puzone never fully recovered.

He was recently discovered on a park bench with a bleeding face and severe injuries to his arms and legs. Environmental activist Alessandro Cannavacciuolo saw Puzone, posted an urgent appeal on social media, which quickly gained traction. Thanks to the intervention of emergency medical services, social workers, and local residents, Puzone was hospitalized and is receiving necessary treatment.

Cannavacciuolo expressed the gravity of Puzone's situation, stating, "He had been lying on a bench for days under the scorching sun, without stopping drinking. I don't know how much longer he would have survived." Legal and social-health processes have been initiated to ensure Puzone's recovery.

Puzone often spoke fondly of Maradona, whom he called 'Pedro.' He remembered Maradona as a "genius on the field" and "always a gentleman off it." A testament to their bond was a charity match in Acerra in 1985, organized by Puzone to help a child with a cleft lip. Maradona, despite his club president's objections, played enthusiastically in the muddy field, showcasing his commitment to solidarity.

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Currently, he is hospitalized at the Villa dei Fiori Clinic to receive the necessary treatment and tests (...) His situation was truly serious. He had been lying on a bench for days under the scorching sun, without stopping drinking. I don't know how much longer he would have survived.