Prior to Roma's Serie A match against Napoli on Monday, Jose Mourinho used the opportunity to pay tribute to Argentina legend Diego Maradona.

The Giallorossi are in Naples for their next domestic match, and there are plenty of paintings and shrines dedicated to the 1986 World Cup champion in that area of the world.

Maradona, who died in November 2020, won two league titles and a UEFA Cup with Napoli during his seven years in Italy, and will be regarded as an all-time great.

Have Mourinho and Maradona ever met?

Over the years, Mourinho and Maradona developed an unexpected relationship, with the two larger-than-life figures exchanging messages before and after games.

After learning of the South American legend's death, the man currently in charge of Roma – who formerly worked with Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, and Manchester United – said: "The world knows Maradona, and the world never forgets him."

Even though my kid was born after he was a player, I made sure that he learned a lot about him. I'm confident that when my son becomes a parent, he will not let his children forget.

I never saw [Alfredo] Di Stefano play football, but my father made sure I learned all there was to know about him. We had players from our generations playing with these generations, and my generation was the one everyone knew.

Then there's Diego, who is a character in his own right. That's the one I'm missing. I regret not spending more time with him; I would have liked to. I believe his family, friends, and co-workers are fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know him and spend time with him.

I knew him well enough that he would always contact me after one of my major setbacks. Never in any of my major triumphs. But I shall miss Diego, and while I am sad, I grin since every minute I spent with him was spent laughing. "