ROME — Napoli paid tribute on Tuesday to Hugo Maradona, younger brother of the Italian club’s former great Diego, following his death from a heart attack at the age of 52.
RIP to Hugo Maradona who passed away today at the age of 52
He was a midfielder for Ascoli in the 1987/88 season. pic.twitter.com/tqwBlq2eGy— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) December 28, 2021
My former teammate at @skrapid , Hugo Maradona, has died.
The brother of Diego was only 52.
He died of a heart attack
RIP— Jan Aage Fjørtoft ️ (@JanAageFjortoft) December 28, 2021
Hugo Maradona, Diego's younger brother and former player, has sadly died in Naples at the age of 52. ️
He suffered a cardiac arrest. RIP. pic.twitter.com/pKKlPxwt6v— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) December 28, 2021
The Argentine, who was also a professional footballer and joined Diego at Napoli in 1987 aged 18, died at his home near Naples, Italian news agency ANSA reported.
Diego Maradona, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, died at the age of 60 in Nov. 2020 due to a cardiac arrest.
Sad news about the death today of Hugo Maradona, brother of Diego. RIP pic.twitter.com/A1S77oR2S9
— Newell's Old Boys - English (@Newells_en) December 28, 2021
The club mourns the passing of Hugo Maradonahttps://t.co/XCVNib2AQv
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) December 28, 2021
"The thoughts of club president Aurelio De Laurentiis, vice president Edoardo De Laurentiis, officials, coaching staff, the players and the whole SSC Napoli family are with the Maradona family after the sad passing of Hugo," Napoli said in a statement.
Hugo Maradona failed to make an impact at Napoli and went on to represent clubs including Ascoli and Rayo Vallecano during a nomadic playing career across Europe, South America and Japan.
Desde el Rayo Vallecano queremos transmitir nuestro más sentido pésame a los familiares y amigos de Hugo Maradona, ex-jugador del Club, fallecido a la edad de 52 años.
D.E.P. pic.twitter.com/NOMvbE5xBY— Rayo Vallecano (@RayoVallecano) December 28, 2021
(Reporting by Alasdair Mackenzie, editing by Ed Osmond)