Gary Lineker opens up on bizarre moment he was offered interview with Diego Maradona… at 4am in a nightclub
GARY LINEKER has recalled a bizarre story where he was offered an interview with Diego Maradona in a nightclub at 4am.
The ex-England ace has told tales of the Argentine’s feats a number of times in the past.
But in the latest episode of the Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker recalled when he was filming a documentary about World Cup Golden Boot winners in Buenos Aires.
Lineker revealed how he was in South America to interview Mario Kempes – Golden Boot winner of the 1978 World Cup – but was trying to contact Maradona for an interview in 1996/97.
He explained how he had gone to Maradona’s house but he was not in.
Lineker then went to play a round of golf with former Argentina president Carlos Menem.
The Match of the Day host opened up on how his competitive instincts got the better of him during the game, saying “f*** that” when being told to lose the final hole.
Lineker explained he ended up drawing the game, while Menem called Maradona to get an interview sorted.
He said: “We got to about the eighth hole and he asked about my documentary series and said ‘are you not talking to Diego?’ And I explained how we tried but it didn’t really happen.
“So he said hang on and he picked up his phone and called Maradona and said ‘yeah we’ll do it tomorrow night’.”
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Lineker then revealed how he got a phone call at 2am from Menem regarding the interview.
He added: “The following night, did our filming during the day but had heard nothing from Diego.
“So I go to my hotel room and it’s 2am and the phone rings. I’m thinking ‘Who the hell is that?’ It’s President Menem on the phone.
“He said ‘I’ve been speaking to Diego, if you get to so and so nightclub for 3:30-4am he’ll speak to you’.”
Lineker admitted he was not keen on the idea and ended up not going for the interview.
The story prompted a laugh from Alan Shearer, with the podcast missing Micah Richards this week due to filming commitments in Mexico with A League Of Their Own.