Gary Lineker recently shared a fascinating story about an encounter with legendary footballer Diego Maradona. In the latest episode of the Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker revealed that he was offered an interview with Maradona in a nightclub at 4am. The ex-England ace, who has spoken highly of Maradona in the past, recounted the strange incident while filming a documentary about World Cup Golden Boot winners in Buenos Aires.

Trying to Contact Maradona

Lineker explained that he was in South America to interview Mario Kempes, the Golden Boot winner of the 1978 World Cup. However, he also wanted to get an interview with Maradona, which proved to be a challenge. Lineker went to Maradona's house but couldn't find him there. He then decided to play golf with former Argentina president Carlos Menem.

A Competitive Game of Golf

During the golf game, Lineker's competitive nature got the better of him. When told to lose the final hole, he defiantly replied, "f*** that." In the end, Lineker drew the game, and Menem took the opportunity to call Maradona and arrange an interview for Lineker.

A Late-Night Phone Call

Lineker received a phone call from Menem at 2am regarding the interview. Menem informed him that if he went to a certain nightclub between 3:30-4am, he would have the chance to speak with Maradona. However, Lineker admitted that he was not enthusiastic about the idea and ultimately decided not to go for the interview.

The story elicited laughter from Alan Shearer, who joined Lineker on the podcast. Micah Richards, another regular on the show, was absent this week due to filming commitments in Mexico for A League Of Their Own.