Diego Sinagra

Diego Armando Maradona Jr. (born Diego Armando Sinagra; September 20, 1986) is an Argentine-Italian football coach, former player, and professional beach soccer player. He is the son of Cristiana Sinagra and Argentine national footballer Diego Maradona. Biography Born in Naples, Italy, Sinagra – nicknamed Diego Jr. or Dieguito – was the result of an out-of-wedlock affair between Maradona and a young local woman named Cristiana Sinagra. He was brought up by his mother. His paternal grandfather Diego Maradona Senior "Chitoro" (1927–2015), who worked at a chemicals factory, was of Indigenous Guaraní and Spanish descent, and his paternal grandmother Dalma Salvadora Franco, "Doña Tota" (1930–2011), had Italian and Croatian ancestry. In 1993, he was legally recognized as Maradona's son by the Court of Naples, acquiring his father's last name as a consequence. Despite that, he did not meet his natural father until 2003, during a golf tournament in Fiuggi. It was only in 2007 that Maradona publicly recognised Diego Jr. as his son according to the Italian press. There were rumours that Pope Francis, at that time the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, asked Maradona to recognize Diego Jr. as his son. Maradona's lawyers have denied this allegation. Maradona had a passion for football and started playing at a young age, showing promise by emulating his father's skills. At 11 he was a part of the Napoli youth squad. He represented Italy at under-17 level. In 2004, the young Maradona joined the youth squad of Genoa for a season.