Fidel Castro Pens Letter To Diego Maradona, Quells Death Rumors (Photo)

Unlike many of the shots Diego Maradona took during his legendary soccer career, those rumors which claim Fidel Castro has died are wide of the mark.

Maradona quashed Castro death rumors Monday by showing a signed four-page letter he recently received from the former Cuban president to Telesur, according to Reuters. Maradona didn’t share the contents of the Castro letter, but the Venezuela-based television station assured the world that Fidel lives.

“The leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, is alive and wrote a letter to the soccer star,” Telesur said, according to Reuters.

Telesur also shared photos of Maradona holding and discussing the letter on its Twitter account.

[tweet https://twitter.com/telesurenglish/status/554784943386427394 align=’center’]

[tweet https://twitter.com/teleSURtv/status/554854092372443136 align=’center’]

Castro, 88, hasn’t made a public comment since Oct. 17, and his silence on the Dec. 17 announcement that the United States and Cuba will resume diplomatic relations sparked new rumors of his demise.

Maradona, 54, and Castro have been friends since they first met in 1994. For several years starting in 2000, Maradona kept a home in Cuba, where he attended a rehab clinic to help him battle substance-abuse problems. The Argentine was in Cuba most recently to film two episodes of “De Zurda,” a television show he hosts.

Maradona told reporters Monday at Havana’s airport that he was glad to hear from his old friend.

“I’m very happy to know he’s well,” Maradona said.

The final score looks like this: Maradona 1 – 0 Rumors.