Mark Bresciano admits he was 'stunned' when Diego Maradona shook his hand recently.
The Australian midfielder and his Al Nasr team took on Al Wasl, coached by Maradona, in the UAE Pro-League in April last season and Bresciano fondly recalled the meeting with the Argentine great.
"It was one of the highlights of my life meeting him for the first time. It was like two family members who had not seen each other for a long time," Bresciano told the Herald Sun.
"We shook hands and he gave me a bear hug, I'm like 'oh my God, this is Maradona.'
"We had never met, I only played against the team he coached, but he knew exactly who I was.
"He was the one that came to me and put out his hand, I was stunned."
He added: "He's a gentleman, he was amazing. I'd heard so much about him and to be honest from what you hear you wouldn't think he would have that character.
"But he's very warm with people, and it's not fake.
"He spoke to me in a mix of Spanish and Italian, I spoke in Italian. We had a bit of a chat and since then I've seen him at a few functions."
