Maradona visit left The Red Devils and The Kop heroes starstruck

Well, it’s not every day you get to shake the Hand of God. No wonder Rio Ferdinand admitted he was starstruck and Liverpool players were inventing excuses to meet the most iconic Argentinian since Che Guevara.

Diego Maradona, new coach of Argentina, was in the north-west on Friday, charming a new generation of English footballers with only a fuzzy memory of his notorious 1986 World Cup ‘goal’.

New Argentina boss Diego Maradona visited Manchester United's Carrington training ground complex

Maradona inspired awe from the likes of Manchester United’s Ferdinand and Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard when he called in at both clubs’ training grounds.

Rafa Benitez found his Liverpool players popping into his office at an unprecedented rate as he chatted to Maradona, who is here for talks with key players such as Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez.

Ferdinand, who was eight when Maradona thumped his goal past Peter Shilton — unrepentant, he dubbed it the Hand of God — was pleased as punch to receive a signed shirt.

‘We were like school kids around a star coming to school,’admitted Ferdinand.

‘In my eyes, he is the best footballer ever. He is one of my heroes, if not the shining beacon when I was a kid.

'I had all his videos.

‘He was the player everyone wanted to be. He was my idol when I started to play football.


United striker Carlos Tevez is likely to be part of Maradona's Argentina plans

'I can’t hold him in higher esteem than that. To be able to shake his hand, get a cuddle off him and a picture — it made my birthday.’

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson certainly approved, reckoned Ferdinand.

He said: ‘I think the gaffer would probably like him to come every day, the way his presence raised standards.

'Everyone was trying to impress him. I hope he’ll go back to Argentina and say he’s seen a great player — Rio Ferdinand!’

Sir Alex said: ‘It was good. The players were all delighted to see him.

'It’s arguable who’s the best in the world but he’s in the best two or three.’

He’s forgiven on Merseyside, too.

Sir Alex Ferguson (right) and Maradona share a moment

Jamie Carragher’s father Phil, a staunch England fan, grabbed a taxi over to Melwood when his son tipped him off that Maradona had swept in.

Maradona’s car, with dark tinted glass, glided in unnoticed by the 30 or so fans waiting outside and the great man spent most of his time in Benitez’s first-floor office discussing Mascherano, who Benitez thinks should be Argentina captain.

‘I spoke with Steven Gerrard about the owners offering me contract talks, but all the players were far more concerned about meeting Diego,’ said Benitez.

‘He didn’t go out on the training pitch but they made a point of finding him.

‘We were in my office trying to talk about Mascherano, but every few minutes there would be a knock on the door and someone would come in with some excuse to say hello.’