Diego Armando Maradona

[D-Kin]

Former Napoli star Diego Maradona has been admitted to hospital in Buenos Aires suffering from an ‘imbalance’.

The Argentine legend was admitted to the Sanatorio Guemes hospital after falling ill on Thursday and is now expected to undergo further exams to assess his condition.

“Patient Diego Armando Maradona has entered the hospital to undergo complimentary studies due to a general sickness he suffered today,” read an official statement.

“The sickness is not related to drug addiction,” added the statement.

Maradona’s personal physician Alfredo Cahe, who is in attendance along with the footballer’s daughters Dalma and Giannina, confirmed that the former player’s life is not in danger.

The San Paolo hero, who led Argentina to glory in the 1986 World Cup, was banned for 15 months in 1991 after failing a drugs test and tested positive again at the 1994 World Cup, before retiring from football in 1997.

Maradona, who has battled with cocaine addiction in the past, was hospitalised in 2000 with a severe heart problem and four years later he spent 10 days in intensive care with heart and breathing problems.

His life however seemed to get back on track in 2005, when he had a stomach-stapling operation that allowed him to lose nearly 30kg in weight.

But the Argentine media reported lately that he had started gaining weight again and was considering taking a slimming cure in Switzerland.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[LAF]

Never nice to hear a great in such a state. But his years of abuse to his body has been catching up on him in the past decade.

I saw a video of him in a charity game a few weeks ago and you can clearly see he has put on alot of weight.

Good it's not serious though...

You put your left hand in,
You put your left hand out,
You put your left hand in and you shake it all about,
You do the hokey cokey and you score a goal,
That's what it's all about,
Oh, Diego Maradona,
Oh, Diego Maradona,
Oh, Diego Maradona,
He put the English OUT, OUT, OUT!

[Sundance]

They're being a bit vague about what's going on, so I do hope and pray that it is, indeed, nothing serious. Diego has seemed to get his life back on track in the past few years, but surely all those years of addiction to drugs, food, cigars, wine and women have taken their toll. I pray that he takes care of himself because I don't want him to end up like George Best.

[Diabolico]

Even though they're saying it's not drug-related, it seems suspicious that there's some kind of substance (or other "disreputable" circumstance) involved, simply because they're being so vague about it. It's true he's put on weight lately, though he's still looked in better shape than he did during his seriously heavy times.

But regardless of what it may be, I too truly hope it's nothing serious and that he'll be out of the hospital as soon as possible. Take good care, Diego.

[D-Kin]

Former Napoli legend Diego Armando Maradona is still in a Buenos Aires hospital as medics fight to stave off the threat of cirrhosis.

The 46-year-old was admitted to the Sanatorio Guemes centre after falling ill on Thursday, when his personal physician Alfredo Cahe said his ill health was brought on by excessive smoking, drinking and eating due to depression caused by family problems.

“We are treating a chronic liver illness and trying hard to avoid that it turns into cirrhosis,” said the hospital director Hector Pezzella.

“Cirrhosis would be the last stage, but the objective of Maradona’s hospitalisation and detoxification is to avoid this, also because Diego is not an alcoholic.”

The former footballer, who led Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup, was apparently taken to the hospital against his will.

“He woke up at 02:30 and insulted me, he didn’t want to be there,” said Cahe to a local radio station. “They sedated him again and he fell asleep.”

El Pibe de Oro is expected to remain in hospital for at least 15 days, according to the latest reports in South America.

The San Paolo hero, who retired from sport in 1997 and has battled with cocaine addiction in the past, was hospitalised in 2000 with a severe heart problem and spent 10 days in intensive care with heart and breathing problems four years later.

In 2005 he had a stomach-stapling operation that allowed him to lose nearly 30kg in weight, but he had started gaining weight again and was considering taking a slimming course in Switzerland.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Sundance]

Well, that sounds hopeful, but still a bit frightening. Certainly fighting this in the earlier stages gives Diego a much better chance. And I did have to chuckle a bit when I read the part about him insulting the doctor in the middle of the night. But if he's been suffering from depression, they need to treat his mental state as much as the physical and I doubt that will be easy because Diego is a stubborn man.

[D-Kin]

Former Napoli star Diego Armando Maradona has left the Buenos Aires hospital where he was admitted two weeks ago.

The Argentine legend was brought to the Sanatorio Guemes centre after falling ill on March 29 and was treated for a chronic liver illness in an attempt to avoid the emergence of cirrhosis.

His personal physician Alfredo Cahe had stated that his ill health was brought on by excessive smoking, drinking and eating due to depression caused by family problems.

Maradona was released on Tuesday night and will now face a long road to full recovery, as the doctors recommended medical and dietary treatments as alternative therapies to be used.

“Diego is aware of the seriousness of his disease and is finally listening to what we have to say,” noted hospital director Hector Pezzella.

“He was sceptical before, but now he is asking questions and wondering if he will be able to recover.”

The former footballer, who led Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup, retired from sport in 1997 and has battled with cocaine addiction in the past.

El Pibe de Oro was hospitalised in 2000 with a severe heart problem and spent 10 days in intensive care with heart and breathing problems four years later.

Maradona also had a stomach-stapling operation in 2005 which allowed him to lose nearly 30kg, but he had recently put on weight again.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Tom Andre]

That man seems to be made of iron.He always come back strong.

[D-Kin]

Former Napoli star Diego Armando Maradona has been re-admitted to hospital in Buenos Aires, just days after being released.

The ex-Argentina captain had been brought to the Sanatorio Guemes centre after falling ill on March 29, where he was treated for a chronic liver illness in an attempt to avoid the emergence of cirrhosis.

El Pibe de Oro was discharged two days ago and was expected to travel to a clinic in Switzerland, with his personal doctor Alfredo Cahe, to continue with his medical and dietary treatments at the request of medics.

However, according to the latest reports in Argentina, Maradona was rushed back into intensive care at the Ezeiza hospital on Friday after suffering a relapse.

Daily newspaper Infobae and television network TN reported that the former footballer fell ill during the night and was brought to the hospital with Cahe, who had expressed his concern over Maradona’s condition.

“He is still sedated, but hasn’t undergone the exams that were prescribed. He must understand that he faces a long and challenging road to recovery,” the doctor declared on Thursday.

The former Napoli legend, who retired from sport in 1997 and has battled with cocaine addiction in the past, had instead stated that he would be present in the stands for Sunday’s match between Boca Juniors and River Plate.

“I am feeling fine, I have recovered and nothing will prevent me from supporting my lads as long as I am alive,” he noted.

Maradona was already hospitalised in 2000 with a severe heart problem and spent 10 days in intensive care with heart and breathing problems four years later.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[LAF]

Not good news. Lets hope he pulls through this.

[Diabolico]

Poor guy. I truly hope things turn out alright for him.

[D-Kin]

Diego Armando Maradona has entered a psychiatric clinic in Buenos Aires and it is “unclear” how long he will remain.

The former Napoli legend has been repeatedly rushed to hospital over the past few weeks with a series of physical problems and received treatment for alcohol addiction.

Now he has been released from hospital and moved the Avril specialist unit in Buenos Aires.

“Diego accepted this new destination in full possession of his mental faculties,” assured his personal medic Alfredo Cahe.

“This is the first time such a thing has occurred. The positive thing is that he signed the consent forms after having carefully read the terms of the process and the details of his treatment. We hope it will be the final and definitive time.

Il Pibe de Oro has worried friends, family and fans in recent weeks with his battle against alcohol and food addiction, but his journey is not over yet.

“For now we cannot predict how long he will have to be in the clinic. What I can say is that Diego will not receive any visitors and we will not release any updates on his status.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Things just seem to be going from bad to worse.

[D-Kin]

Former Napoli legend Diego Armando Maradona’s condition remains stable after entering a psychiatric clinic in Buenos Aires last week.

The Argentine 46-year-old was rushed to hospital twice in recent weeks and received treatment for alcohol addiction, before being released and moved to the Avril private hospital.

“To all media and after the rumours that have been going around, Mr Diego Armando Maradona is clinically stable,” read a statement from psychiatrists Jose Tejado and Carlos Nassef.

“He has no complications of any kind and continues with the plan of treatment already set.”

Maradona’s wife Claudia Villafane and his personal medic Alfredo Cahe had also confirmed that he was doing well, after internet reports had fuelled speculation that he had died from a heart attack.

El Pibe de Oro, who retired from sport in 1997 and has battled with cocaine addiction in the past, was near to death during hospitalizations in 2000 and 2004.

Cocaine, however, is not involved in his current health problems, according to the doctors’ statements over the past two weeks.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Oliver_Kahn]

Great news