By Chris Wright
In news that should shock precisely no-one, Diego Maradona is reportedly seriously considering coming out of retirement in order to register as a player for Argentinian fifth-tier side Deportivo Riestra.
Maradona, who is now 53 and hardly what you’d call a “physical specimen”, joined Deportivo Riestra as the club’s official “spiritual coach” last August and has been asked to take over as manager on several occasions, though his alleged reply every time was simply: “I want to play”.
Not that he took much convincing by the sound of things, but Maradona was talked into signing for Deportivo by Victor Stinfale, who acts as the small club’s financier and is also a personal friend of Maradona’s – as well as his oft-called upon legal representative.
According to Buenos Aires-based newspaper Olé, Maradona’s papers have been filed with the Argentinian FA and he is currently awaiting clearance.
Maradona last played a competitive game in 1998 but Stinfale is hoping his comeback (pencilled in for March 23rd) will help swell the coffers as the club are hoping to move out of their 3,000 capacity ground to a bigger stadium elsewhere in Buenos Aires.
Brilliant. What could possibly go wrong?
(Via Mail)