Maradona bloated, bedridden and resigned before death, says icon’s masseur

Seven health care professionals have been on trial since mid-April in Argentina for potential negligence that may have contributed to the soccer icon's death.(AFP) — Diego Maradona was bedridden, suffering from edema and appeared resigned to his fate in his final days, according to testimony from the Argentine soccer legend’s masseur at the trial into the circumstances of his death in 2020.Maradona “wouldn’t get out of bed, he didn’t want to eat, he didn’t want to wash, he didn’t want to look after his personal hygiene,” Nicolas Taffarel testified Thursday.He said that at the time he had alerted the 1986 World Cup winner’s medical team that they should be more present and visit “every day,” as heard in an audio message played in court.Seven health care professionals have been on trial since mid-April in Argentina for potential negligence that may have contributed to the soccer icon’s death.“I reported the issues I observed with him, but I saw no concrete action or swift resolution,” the masseur added, on the verge of tears as he spoke of Maradona.“He was bloated, his legs were swollen …,” Taffarel recounted.“The doctors told me to calm down, that these symptoms would pass. When you’re anxious, you put your trust in them; you tell yourself it will pass, that everything will sort itself out. But it didn’t pass.”On Nov. 24, the day before Maradona’s death, Taffarel said he tried in vain to persuade him to come over and drink mate.“He said to me: ‘I don’t want anything, Taffita, that’s it.’ I asked him: ‘What do you mean, that’s it?’ And he replied: ‘Nothing, that’s it,’” he said, quoting Maradona’s ambiguous words — “ya esta” can be understood as “it’s all right” or “it’s over.”Maradona died alone in bed the following day at age 60 from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema — a condition in which fluid accumulates in the lungs — two weeks after undergoing surgery.The defendants, who face up to 25 years in prison, deny any responsibility.Most of them cite their specialties and limited roles, which had no direct link to the clinical causes of death, as grounds for their defense.The trial could run beyond August.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads