Maradona: Balotelli is one of the four best players in the world
Diego Maradona believes that AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli is one of the four best players on the planet, and said that the enigmatic Italian should be left alone in order to reach his full potential on the pitch.
Speaking in Naples during a Q&A session with Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, the legendary attacker said that he would like to help mentor Balotelli given his similar experiences around the game.
Via Goal.com, he also explained the odd nature of his first ever encounter with the 23-year-old:
"My first contact I had with Mario was a picture he sent me of him smoking cigar," Maradona explained. "I liked it - I laughed.
"I would like talk to Mario by ourselves, in a room, and I would explain him the bad experiences I had in football. People should leave Balotelli in peace.
"I think you should first look at what kind of player he is and a manager should judge him for what he is on the pitch.
"I like him. For me, there is [Lionel] Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Balotelli."
Never one to shy away from the camera, Maradona then continued on by discussing a multitude of topics.
This is actually the best Maradona interview ever. In stitches. He is destroying everyone! Just referred to Aguero as "my daughter's ex"!
— Carlo Garganese (@carlogarganese) October 17, 2013
Aside from the Manchester City star - who separated from Maradona's daughter Giannina late in 2012 - the 52-year-old also discussed one topic that never seems to go away: his battle with Pele.
Per the Daily Mirror, here's what Maradona had to say about his Brazilian rival, and much, much more:
On Pele:
"I beat the brown guy in a people's vote.
"Pele even lost in Brazil! Ayrton (Senna) was voted their best athlete ever.
"The prize that FIFA gave him isn't worth a d**k."
On his drug use:
"I want to tell all the kids not to try drugs. It's too ugly an addiction
"In four months time I will have been off drugs for ten years."
[Standing ovation from the audience. Diego visibly moved]
On being a manager:
"I would like to be Napoli manager when Rafa [Benitez] leaves."
[The room, in Naples, stands to applaud and cheer]
"There are lots of agents that are afraid of me, that's why I'm not managing at the moment.
"I can't get a team together.
On FIFA executives:
"The FIFA directors are all over 95 years old!
"How can they be in charge of world football when they can't even drive a car [anymore]?"
Don't ever change, Diego.