Maradona claims his ex-wife misappropriated $9 million of his money to buy real estate in South Florida after she was entrusted to manage his finances
- Diego Maradona claims ex-wife Claudia Villafane secretly stole his money
- Argentinian football great is suing her in Miami courts to recover the funds
- He claims the misappropriations were only discovered in a 2014 audit
- Villafane tried to have case dismissed but Florida court ruled it could continue
Argentinian football great Diego Maradona is suing his ex-wife for allegedly stealing his money and buying six apartments in Florida.
The 57-year-old entrusted his finances to his wife Claudia Villafane during their marriage in 1989 to 2003 while he struggled with cocaine addiction.
He claimed she secretly misappropriated $9 million of his money, which was only discovered during an audit in 2014.
Argentinian football great Diego Maradona is suing his ex-wife Claudia Villafane for allegedly stealing his money and buying six apartments in Florida
The 57-year-old entrusted his finances to his wife Claudia Villafane during their marriage in 1989 to 2003 while he struggled with cocaine addiction
The condominiums, four of which she reportedly sold for a $1.1 million profit, included one in the luxury Murano at Portofino tower on Miami Beach.
Maradona also claimed she hid money in bank accounts in Florida and Uruguay and sought unspecified damages to make up for what was ‘stolen’.
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‘Villafane… elected to misappropriate and misuse millions of dollars’ belonging to Maradona, the lawsuit read.
She the decided to ‘conceal her theft through the creation of multiple Florida entities and investments in several real properties’ in Miami Beach, Hallandale Beach, and elsewhere, it claimed.
The condominiums, four of which she reportedly sold for a $1.1 million profit, included one in the luxury Murano at Portofino tower (pictured) on Miami Beach
Maradona with Villafane and their daughter Dalma (centre) in 2008 when she was 21
He claimed she secretly misappropriated $9 million of his money, which was only discovered during an audit in 2014 (couple pictured in 1992)
Maradona’s stellar playing career included leading Argentina to the 1986 World Cup championship, in which he won the Golden Ball as top tournament player and made his famous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England
Their 2013 divorce settlement found Maradona was worth $3.1 million and had to hand over $1.6 million to his ex-wife.
They met as children in a poor neighbourhood of Buenos Aires well before the star’s football career earned him fame and fortune.
Villafane denied any fraud and tried to have the case dismissed on the grounds that the case belonged in Argentina.
Maradona would not be able to sue her in his home country because the statute of limitations had expired, but could still pursue her in U.S. courts.
Maradona sparked concern with his antics during Argentina’s victory over Nigeria in the World Cup group stages that sent the team through to the round of 16
He extended his middle fingers to opposing supporters and verbally abused them after his team scored
A hoax claiming Maradona died of a heart attack after the game spread on social media after photos showed him having his pulse checked at the match
His lawyers argued the case belonged in Florida as the apartments were bought there, and the state’s 3rd District Court of Appeal agreed on Wednesday.
Maradona’s stellar playing career included leading Argentina to the 1986 World Cup championship, in which he won the Golden Ball as top tournament player and made his famous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England.
He played for several professional teams, mainly in Europe, and later coached the national team.
The case now returns to a lower Miami court, where the case had been on hold pending the outcome of Villafane’s appeal.
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