By Alex O’Loughlin
May 10 – The five children of Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano (pictured with Ronaldo) have filed an injunction seeking to stop him marrying a Costa Rican woman 50 years his junior.
The 86-year-old’s children want to protect the two-time European player of the year’s assets.
Di Stefano, who is now an honorary Real Madrid president, hopes to wed 36-year-old Gina Gonzalez later this month because he has “been a widower for eight years” after his previous wife Sara Freites Varela died in 2005.
‘The blond arrow’, as he affectionately became known, helped los Blancos win the European Cup for five consecutive years between 1956 and 1960 during his playing days, but his five children have filed for him to be declared physically and mentally incapable.
Di Stefano’s children said in a statement: “We believe his current state of vulnerability, together with his obvious media profile, could result in abusive conduct towards him.
“It is precisely this that we intend to avert by means of the legal protection we are seeking, while at the same time trying to protect the image and honour, both of our father and, in general, of our family.”.
Di Stefano suffered a heart-attack in 2005 and was fitted with a pacemaker. He has battled health problems since, often being seen in public in a wheelchair.
The former Argentine national who became a Spanish international was most recently in hospital in April of this year, for a routine check-up of his heart condition.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734801855labto1734801855ofdlr1734801855oedin1734801855i@nil1734801855hguol1734801855o.xel1734801855a1734801855. Alex is assistant editor of www.laliganews.tv