Diego Maradona recovering after 'successful' brain surgery
Football legend Diego Maradona has successfully undergone an operation for possible bleeding on his brain.
In a statement released on Tuesday night, the 1986 World Cup winner’s spokespeople said the operation “was all successful and it happened as expected”.
Maradona, who played for the likes of Napoli, Barcelona and Boca Juniors before hanging up his boots in 1997 is set to stay in hospital for at least 48 hours as he recovers.
Leopoldo Luque, Maradona's personal physician, said following his admission to hospital in Buenos Aires on Monday it was not an “emergency situation” and he was "coping well."
His former club Napoli tweeted a message of support to their former player.
Mr Luque was quoted by Argentinian television’s ESPN F90 as saying: “I didn’t see him as I would like to see him.
“We need to be calm. This is not an emergency situation. Diego is well, but he could be better.
“You see some situations that make you believe that it is good to come to a clinic, to hydrate, draw blood.
“Let’s see how many days. Let’s see how much can be done. My idea is to have at least three days for him to hydrate well. It’s looking at what’s best for him. There is no emergency.
He added: “I’ve seen Maradona when he’s bad. When he’s bad he does not accept help. Sometimes you have to push him a little more and this was one of those times.
“For now he is convinced. How am I going to bring him if not?
“Maradona is not well psychologically and, as with everyone, that affects him physically.”
Maradona has struggled with addiction and alcoholism since retiring as a professional player and has spoken openly about how it has affected his life.