Maradona To Leave Role Managing Club

Story By: Juan Mayes, Sub EditorJoseph GolderAgencyGolder’s News And Sport 

Diego Maradona has reportedly decided to leave his post as manager of top-flight Argentine side Gimnasia Esgrima La Plata.

Footballing icon Maradona, 59, reportedly met with close friends at his home in Bella Vista located in the Buenos Aires province in Argentina this weekend to discuss his exit from Gimnasia.

According to local media Maradona has already decided to quit but is considering whether to leave the club immediately or finish the year by overseeing the club’s last three matches of 2019.

Picture Credit: Golders/@maradona

Maradona reportedly decided to leave the club came after current Gimnasia President Gabriel Pellegrino’s decision to not run for re-election became public.

The elections to elect the club’s next president are set to be held this Saturday 23rd November.

According to popular Argentine newspaper Clarin, sources close to Maradona said “if Pellegrino or anybody from his organisation does not run in the elections, it is a fact that Diego will leave”.

In a statement released by Pellegrino’s organisation, he explained: “In every meeting we attended we were told, ‘Pellegrino is a dealbreaker!’ We understand!

“We do not want to confront any of the many members that are competing in these elections, that is why we decided to step aside from this scene which is full of personal ambitions.”

It is unclear what the “personal ambitions” the statement referred to are or if Pellegrino’s organisation want Maradona to stay managing the club.

If Maradona decides to stay until the year’s end, his last matches managing Gimanasia will be against Arsenal Sarandi on 24th November, Cordoba on 8th December at home and against Banfield on 29th November away.

Local media report Maradona will make his decision public this week.

Pellegrino has been the governing figure of the club since assuming the position in 2016. Elections are held every three years.

Gimnasia are 22nd in the Superliga. They have won three matches and lost five under Maradona’s direction.

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