At President Jair Bolsonaro's first bilateral meeting with the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, this Monday (30), the Brazilian leader began the conversation by offering condolences on the death of Diego Armando Maradona, on the 25th.
This was the first direct conversation between Bolsonaro and Fernández. Since last October, the Brazilian had refused to speak to Fernández when the Peronist was elected to command Brazil's largest trading partner in Latin America.
Bolsonaro has not yet commented on the episode. According to reports, Bolsonaro sympathized with the Argentine people and said that the former soccer player, linked to historical figures on the left like Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro, was "a great athlete" that marked the sport.
"We are all very sorry for what happened to Maradona," said Bolsonaro.
The meeting, which also celebrated Argentine-Brazilian Friendship Day, was held by videoconference and lasted about 40 minutes.
This day was created in 1985, when presidents José Sarney and Raúl Afonsín met in Foz do Iguaçu. Sarney also attended the meeting on Monday and wished the Argentine success.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon