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Argentina won the World Cup in Mexico in 1986, but the path to the trophy could have been different for Diego Armando Maradona's team. In the final, the Argentines defeated West Germany, while in the semi-finals they overcame Belgium, a team that, according to some at the time, might not have made it there had Spain eliminated them in the quarter-finals.
This is precisely the episode that former Spain footballer Julio Alberto recently recalled. He was part of the Spanish national team in that World Cup and claims that Maradona himself did not want to face Spain.
" Diego Maradona was only afraid of us. He told us that himself. Unfortunately, Eloy missed the penalty and we were eliminated. It would have been that World Cup match, but it didn't happen ," said Julio Alberto.
At that time, Julio Alberto and Maradona were also teammates at Barcelona. The Spanish defender recalls that one of the reasons he moved to the Catalan club was precisely the arrival of the Argentine star.
" I went to Barcelona because my friend Marcos Alonso was leaving and because Maradona was coming. It was an opportunity to join a big club that aimed to win everything with the best player in the world ," he said.
According to Julio Alberto, his transfer and that of Marcos Alonso also helped Atletico Madrid financially at the time. " The club had considerable debts and our transfers gave them an economic relief, enabling them to pay their employees and other obligations ," concluded the former footballer.
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