All my problems have been solved, says Maradona

A SLIMLINE Diego Maradona arrived in Madrid yesterday saying he had put all his problems behind him and had come to Spain to catch up with old friends at Real Madrid.

The 44-year-old said he had lost 60 pounds after undergoing a stomach stapling operation in Colombia in March adding that his drug addiction “was now over” and that “all my problems have now been solved”.

The former Argentine captain was besieged by an army of reporters and cameramen who were awaiting his arrival on a flight from Cuba and took 15 minutes to leave the terminal at Madrid’s Barajas airport.

“I’m going to say hello to some friends, to see Arrigo Sacchi who is a life-long friend and to talk with Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Vanderlei (Luxemburgo),” he said.

Former AC Milan and Italy coach Sacchi is director of football at Real Madrid, Luxemburgo took over as coach at the end of last year and Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos both play for the Primera Liga side.

Maradona, who played for Barcelona between 1982 and 1984 before joining Napoli, said he was still considering a proposal from his former club Boca Juniors to take charge of the youth team.

“I’m listening to the offer at the moment,” he said.