Hodge is not looking to sell Maradona top
FORMER Nottingham Forest star Steve Hodge has vowed Diego Maradona’s iconic World Cup 1986 shirt is not for sale.
Hodge famously swapped shirts with the footballing genius after England’s defeat to Argentina in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals and its value has rocketed after his death earlier this week.
Maradona famously punched the ball into the net before scoring one of the greatest goals in World Cup history as he demonstrated both the beautiful and ugly side of the game.
With the shirt one of the most sought-after pieces of memorabilia in football history, the Reds pundit for BBC Nottingham told them he has been frustrated with stories claiming he is looking to sell it.
“I’ve had reporters knocking on my door for two days non-stop,” he said.
“I’ve had the phones ringing from every TV station and foreign stations and it’s been a bit uncomfortable to be honest with you.
“It’s not been nice and I wanted to set the record straight really.
“I’ve seen articles on the internet and there’s been flak flying around that I want £1m and £2m and I’m hawking it around.
“I find it disrespectful and totally wrong. It’s not for sale. I am not trying to sell it at the moment.
“One day in the future, one never knows. I’ve had it for 34 years now and I’ve never once tried to sell it. It has incredible sentimental value.”
According to the Daily Star,
Hodge had acquired the shirt after going into the the Argentina dressing room and convinced Maradona to hand it over.
And Hodge’s former England team-mate, Peter Reid, was shocked to see it when he pulled it out back at the team hotel.
“I was lying on the bed when Steve went to his kit bag and got it out,” he said.
“You can imagine what I said to him. I couldn’t imagine anyone going into that Argentine dressing room, let alone asking for that s**t.
“Maradona was a great player but he cheated for the first goal.
“I might have gone ballistic when I saw it but Steve isn’t quite such a mug - that shirt must be worth a small fortune.
“I would hate to put a price on it. It would be worth an amazing amount now.”
The shirt has been on loan to the National Football Museum in Manchester since 2003.