The Massimo Vignati museum in Naples is seen from the outside.

For some Diego Maradona is the greatest footballer of the 20th century, for others - mainly English - he is the cheating possessor of the hand of God. In Italy, however, he is and always will be the patron saint of Naples.

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And just as saints have their altars so Maradona has his museum, an extraordinary treasure trove of artefacts that includes the left boot with which the Argentine scored twice against Belgium in the semi-finals of the 1986 World Cup.

An altar and paraphernalia dedicated to Diego Maradona are pictured at the 'Maradona corner.'

You can also find his first contract with Napoli and even the sofa from his Naples apartment where singer Julio Iglesias once sat. It's all here in the cellar museum.

Maradona arrived at Napoli as a world record $10.48 million signing from Barcelona in July 1984.

His time in Catalonia had been difficult and Naples was a bolthole. He was to stay seven years, captaining the team to their first-ever Serie A title in 1986-7.

They did it again three years later and during Maradona's stay the Neapolitans also won the Coppa Italia, UEFA Cup and Italian Super Cup.

Jerseys are pictured at the Maradona museum in Naples.

Family guy

This astonishing hoard also testifies to the unique bond between the Argentine genius and a family which was at the heart of his seven-year stay in Naples.

"I was fortunate that for 37 years my dad was the caretaker of the San Paolo stadium and the Napoli changing rooms. And my mother was Maradona's housekeeper and cook," Vignati told AFP.

His sister babysat Diego's daughters Dalma and Giannina while Massimo, as a child and then adolescent, rubbed shoulders with the city's idol on a daily basis.

"We were with Diego from Monday to Sunday," says Vignati, looking at the photos of a time when the Argentine's apartment on the heights of Posillipo, an upscale district of the city, was like his second home.

Massimo Vignati plays with the ball of the match between Napoli and Juventus.

"He and his wife gave us all these things because they knew we were a lot of children, five boys and six girls.

"I was a ballboy during Maradona's seven seasons. On Mondays, I went to play five-a-side, I did not go to school.

Patron saint

For the time being, the collection will remain in the family, whether it is at the San Paolo or down in the cellar.

"With everything that is going on, there would have to be a Maradona, who takes everything on himself," says Massimo.

A 1990 mural representing Diego Maradona is pictured at the 'Maradona corner.'

"He is a child of Naples, he is of the people. We are found in him.

"If he comes, there will be 90,000 people at the stadium. Maradona...even if you talk to kids today, they know. He's in the DNA of the Neapolitans.

"Maradona is San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples. He is immortal."

Agence France-Presse