The City of Miracles Dreams of Mess!

Neapolitans hold their Patron in huge esteem and even supporters of local team SSC Napoli have many times taken to praying en masse on the terraces in times of turmoil. Their prayers were answered when in the summer of 1984 there arrived in Naples a diminutive little Argentine footballer called Diego Armando Maradona.

Maradona's outrageous talent and larger than life persona totally transformed the fortunes of not only Napoli but this entire downtrodden, poverty stricken city as for seven years he carried the Neapolitans banner into battle against the industrial northern footballing powerhouses of Milan and Juventus.

What followed was nothing short of a footballing fairy-tale as a previously trophy less Napoli won two Serie A titles and enjoyed UEFA cup success. That it ended in tears and tantrums with Maradona's halo falling from his head in spectacular fashion in a bewildering sleaze barrage of Camorra parties, cocaine and prostitutes still failed to diminish his status amongst Neapolitans as a living god.

Following Maradona's reign the years of heartache returned for Napoli as their huge debts spiralled out of control and they fell into the unchartered depths of Serie C. Only the timely intervention of Naples boy made good Billionaire, movie-mogul Aurelio de Laurentiis saved them from likely extinction.

Then came the comeback as Napoli stormed back through the leagues to take their rightful place in Serie A. Last month sweet memories were stirred in Naples as the detested Juventus were beaten 2-1 to send them top of the table. Coach Edoardo Reja has assembled an exciting side with the likes of Swedish midfielder Marek Hamsik and Argentine hitman Ezequiel Lavezzi earning rave reviews.

But despite a splendid opening to their campaigns few expect Napoli to fend off the Milanese juggernaut of Jose Mourinho's Inter whom following the Neapolitans victory over Juve returned to the summit with a thumping 4-0 demolition of Roma in the capital the following day.

Neapolitans can only pray that once more their patron San Gennaro can deliver onto them a miracle. Another Maradona? Or if not Diego the next best thing in the shape of a charismatic little Argentine schemer currently plying his trade in Barcelona. Lionel Messi

Messi is twenty two years old and arguably the finest player witnessed since Maradona in his own glorious pomp. I watched live last year at Old Trafford in the Champions League semi final second leg as he led a one-man campaign to grab Barcelona an equaliser and dump Manchester United out of the competition.

Messi ran riot as red shirts were left lying, befuddled and embarrassed in a heap. Barca were a team full of superstars with egos and wealth beyond desire, but the heart for a true fight existed only in their bewitching number ten who terrified an incredibly fraught home crowd.

Comparisons can be deemed near treacherous when dealing with such a footballing icon but there is no doubt that when Lionel Messi looks in the mirror his great hero Diego Maradona stares right back. During World cup 2006 Messi played with 'El Manos de Dios' (Hand of God) stitched onto his boots. Maradona himself after so many false dawns has declared this kid his true 'successor'.

So what chance Messi following in the exulted footsteps of 'El Pibe De Oro and playing for SSC Napoli? Is there something in Lionel Messi's head that gives Neapolitans the merest hope of a second coming?

It appears wholly unlikely for two reasons. Firstly the enormous sums of money such a transfer would involve. To begin a buyout clause of 150 million Euros would have to be paid to Barca. Then there is the not insignificant matter of wages, surely to be around 20 million Euros a year.

Though what makes a move even less likely is the player himself for Messi's loyalty towards his adopted Catalans is well known. And for good reason.At age 11 Messsi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. With medical bills proving simply too much for his Father to pay, Barcelona, (obviously with one eye on a future golden investment) stepped in on the understanding the family moved to Catalonia. There under Barca's watchful eye Messi learnt his trade and passion for the shirt in the club's youth teams. He has never forgotten the debt he owes.

Recently the hugely pro Spanish sports newspaper El Mundo Deportivo reported that Napoli president de Laurentiis was indeed attempting to put together a financial deal that would blow all others out of the water to land Messi. Rumours persist that Neapolitan emissaries have sounded out Messi about a proposed transfer but he has dismissed out of hand it happening. At least for the time being.

So Neapolitans continue to dream. Their prayers for the moment to San Gennaro appear to go unanswered but what price one day Lionel Messi tearing teams apart in the San Paolo in Napoli colours? Just like another Argentine many years before. For is this not the city of miracles?

John Ludden

Cfieldsoffire@aol.com