FOOTBALL legends like Diego Maradona paid tributes with thousands of fans for the funeral of Spain great Quini at Sporting Gijon’s stadium.
Former Barcelona, Gijon and World Cup striker Quini died on Tuesday aged 68 following a heart attack.
Argentina icon Maradona, 57, who played with Quini at Barca from 1982-84, described his former team-mate as “an exceptional man”.
Maradona’s social media message also claimed Quini played “the kind of scorer that no longer exists”.
Thousands of supporters and playeres attended the funeral at the at El Molinon ground, which will be renamed after Quini.
Barcelona and Real Madrid sent tributes in honour of a player whose remarkable career included being kidnapped for 25 days.
He scored 231 league goals in 443 games for Sporting Gijon, plus 54 times in 100 matches for Barca.
Quini played at the 1978 and 1982 World Cups on the way to 35 caps.
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And he did something neither Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved – winning the Pichichi Trophy as the top scorer in la Liga five times, between 1974 and 1982.
Barça coach Ernesto Valverde said: “He’s a person who meant a lot in footballing terms. He was a born goal-scorer and he was easy going, affectionate and good company.”
And rivals Real Madrid stated: “Quini was a legend of the Spanish game and a role model of the values of the sport that he represented throughout his career, both on and off the field, in such exemplary fashion.”
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He was kidnapped at gunpoint in 1981 on his way to the airport to meet his wife and children – after scoring twice in a 5-0 win for Barcelona over Hercules.
He was reported missing the day after failing to show up.
And after almost a month he was released unharmed – and again finished the term as La Liga’s leading scorer.
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