- Title: ARGENTINA: MARADONA & CANIGGIA SIGN FOR BOCA JUNIORS
- Date: 24th July 1995
- Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JULY 24, 1995) (RTV) 1. ARGENTINE SOCCER STARS DIEGO MARADONA AND CLAUDIO CANIGGIA AND ANTONIO ALEGRE, PRESIDENT OF BOCA JUNIOR SOCCER CLUB ARRIVING AT PRESS CONFERENCE 2. FANS CHANTING 3. ALEGRE RAISES THE HANDS OF MARADONA AND CANIGGIA 4. MARADONA SIGNS CONTRACT, WAVES TO FANS AND SHOWS HIS SHIRT, NUMBER 5 5. CANIGGIA SIGNS CONTRACT, WAVES AND SHOWS HIS SHIRT, NUMBER 6 6. MARADONA SAYING "THE TRUTH IS THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE, TO PLAY WITH CLAUDIO. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR HIM FOR A LONG TIME. I WAS TELLING MY WIFE THE OTHER DAY, I LEFT SOCCER WITH CLAUDIO AND I AM RETURNING TO SOCCER WITH CLAUDIO. I HOPE THAT WE CAN GIVE THE PEOPLE ALL THE JOY THEY DESERVE" (SPANISH) 7. CLAUDIO CANIGGIA SAYING HE IS VERY HAPPY TO RETURN TO ARGENTINA AND PLAY WITH DIEGO, WITH THE GREAT TEAM THAT BOCA IS GOING TO BE. "I AM VERY HAPPY FOR THE WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE HAVE WELCOMED ME, BECAUSE WHEN I SAID THAT SINCE I WAS A CHILD I WAS A FAN OF BOCA'S I WAS TELLING THE TRUTH". (SPANISH) 8. MARADONA, CANIGGIA, ALEGRE, GUILLERMO COPOLA, MARADONA'S NEW AGENT, CLAUDIA MARADONA AND CARLOS HELLER, VICE-PRESIDENT OF BOCA JUNIORS, TOASTING WITH CHAMPAGNE. Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 8th August 1995 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
- City:
- Country: Argentina
- Reuters ID: LVA9Y9TWDE7WUIUGW1HC2CREHYHX
- Story Text: Diego Maradona and his former Argentine team-mate Claudio Caniggia both signed for Buenos Aires team Boca Juniors on Monday night (July 24), promising a tantalising combination for Argentine soccer fans.
"This is a dream come true," an influenza-stricken Maradona said at a news conference packed with journalists and rowdy fans after the signing ceremony.
Both midfielder Maradona and his long-time friend Caniggia, who has been playing for Portuguese team Benfica, signed contracts for more than 6 million dollars, according to Argentine television.
Maradona has signed until December 1997 and Caniggia until June 1996, an official said at the ceremony.
The signing officially ends months of speculation about what Maradona would do after completing a FIFA playing ban imposed during the 1994 World Cup finals for failing a dope test.
One of the world's best players in the 1980s, he began a disastrous and short-lived second career as a coach before offering his services to teams eager for his playing services after his ban ends in September.
He said he wanted all along to play again for Boca, the club from the rough side of Buenos Aires he led to championship glory in 1981. But he also flirted with Brazilian team Santos.
Striker Caniggia has also had problems with drugs. In 1993 he was suspended after testing posative for cocaine whilst playing for Roma.
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