El héroe de la Copa del Mundo admite que 'lo debe todo' a lo que Diego Maradona hizo por él

Diego Maradona helped break Italian hearts at the 1990 World Cup – but one opposition player ‘owes everything’ to the Argentina icon.

El Pibe de Oro (‘The Golden Boy’) was under pressure to defend his country’s crown in his adopted nation at Italia ’90 when he faced off against the tournament hosts.

Carnevale claimed he owed everything to his former teammate Maradona (L), whom he misses greatlyGetty

Maradona, who passed away in 2020 aged 60, was the undisputed best on the planet at the 1986 World Cup as he bested England en route to winning FIFA’s showpiece tournament.

In the seasons before Argentina attempted to go back-to-back, ‘El Diego’ spearheaded Napoli to two Scudettos, two second-place finishes, a UEFA Cup and a Coppa Italia.

Fittingly, Maradona returned to Naples against World Cup hosts Italy in the 1990 semi-finals, with La Albiceleste winning on penalties.

His Napoli teammate, Andrea Carnevale, was on the bench for Azzurri that game and was in little doubt of the brilliance of D10S.

The Italian, who is now Udinese’s head of scouting, recently reminisced on playing with two of South America’s all-time greats.

Maradona ‘allowed me to score many goals’

“We are talking about two aliens, Zico and Maradona, and even more Maradona,” Carnevale exclusively told talkSPORT.com during Udinese’s International Media Days event.

“What can I say? Two completely different characters.

“Zico arrived here in 1983-84. I was lucky enough to be here and to be, first of all, a partner of an extraordinary champion, especially at the professional level.

“A champion of humility, where I had the honour of talking to him, training with him, living with him.

Maradona and Zico both lit up Italian football during the 1980sGetty Udinese fans paid tribute to Zico ahead of their match against Como in JanuaryGetty

“So, a high-level champion, especially at the professional level, and of great humility,” Carnevale added to talkSPORT.com on Zico.

“Then we are talking about a great champion [in Maradona]. For me, he was a friend of my heart.

“A friend who I owe everything to, what Diego Armando Maradona did for me, because he allowed me to play alongside him, he allowed me to score many goals.

“He also allowed me to play for the national team and win two Scudetti and a UEFA Cup.

“Diego has been gone since 2020. He is missed by everyone. I can only say that Diego did me a favour and we got on really well.”

Carnevale, in his current role, is now tasked with the impossible job of finding the next Maradona and has discovered some of Europe’s best.

Carnevale (L) said Maradona would always keep an eye out for his former teammatesGetty

From Bruno Fernandes to Alexis Sanchez, Udinese’s renowned scouting network has been widely revered for decades.

Carnevale had two separate stints at the club as a player, either side of the four years he spent alongside Maradona at Napoli.

Udinese has historical links for developing Argentinian gems, including, more recently, Rodrigo De Paul and Roberto Pereyra.

And Carnevale admitted that Maradona would check in with him when he returned to Italy out of his love for his former teammates.

Maradona and Carnevale had helped Napoli lift another Scudetto just weeks before the 1990 World CupGetty

Maradona ‘always had an eye for his former teammates’

“Yes, he was very happy that I was here, that I worked here,” Carnevale continued to talkSPORT. “Because each of us had bad moments.

“He had bad moments first, I had bad moments second. Diego has always had an eye for his former teammates.

“I can’t forget that. Every time he came to Italy, he would call all his former teammates, including me, because Diego loved us.

“He loved us, we loved a champion, above all a man.

“A man, beyond the things you can say about an extraordinary champion. But I was interested in humility, I was interested in humanity.

“And the good that Diego Maradona wanted for all his teammates and especially for the Neapolitan fans.”