Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona is in talks with the Dubai-based club Al Wasl to become their new manager.
“El Diego” has not coached a team since he left his post in the Argentina national soccer team after last summer’s World Cup. He spent a weekend in Dubai amid speculations that he was close to signing a two-year deal.
“It’s more than 85 percent done,” Reuters quoted a source familiar with the matter as saying. “There will be a big announcement in the next two days. It will make all fans and football lovers in UAE happy.”
The source declined to reveal contract details.
During a tour of Al Wasl stadium Mr. Maradona received a joyful welcome, met players and was shown the medical center and training facilities.
Mr. Maradona, 50, captained Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, while his last coaching role was also with his national side.
But his spell as Argentina coach ended last July after the country's football association voted unanimously not to renew his contract following the team’s 4-0 thrashing by Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa.
If the Al Wasl deal is confirmed, Mr. Maradona will take over a side in fourth place in the domestic league, 16 points behind table toppers, Al Jazira, with five matches to go. The two teams play on Monday.
Signing Mr. Maradona would be the latest move by Dubai to flex its football muscles.
In April, Royal Emirates Group bought struggling Spanish La Liga club Getafe for up to 90 million euros ($127.1 million), while former Italy World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro plays for Dubai rivals Al Ahli.
(Mustapha Ajbaili, an editor of Al Arabiya English, can be reached at: Mustapha.ajbaili@mbc.net. Ramy Fahmy is a contributor to Al Arabiya English.)
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