25 November,2011 01:55 PM IST | | Agencies
Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona on Thursday thanked well-wishers for their messages of condolence following the death at the weekend of his mother, Dalma Franco.
"I want to thank people for holding a minute's silence at stadiums and also for the respect they showed, in Argentine football and beyond," said the 1986 world champion, who attended his mother's funeral at a private ceremony on Monday.
The 51-year-old stressed he had been touched by "messages of condolence coming from our president (Cristina Kirchner) and also neighbours at Villa Fiorito (the Buenos Aires district home to his family)."
Maradona left the United Arab Emirates, where he is the coach of club side Al-Wasl, on Sunday to travel home and be at his ill mother's bedside, but was informed that the 82-year-old had died while he was en route.
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Among those who paid personal visits to Maradona were actor Ricardo Darin, tennis player and 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro and footballer Martin Palermo.
Barcelona star Lionel Messi was among those who sent written messages of condolence.
Argentinian league matches were preceded by a minute's silence at the weekend out of respect for the woman nicknamed 'Madame Tota'.
