Diego Maradona to remain in hospital for few more days: Doctor

Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona, who underwent a surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain, will remain in hospital for several more days for treatment, reported AFP quoting his doctor Leopoldo Luque.

“We saw that in the post-operative phase Diego had episodes of confusion,” Leopoldo Luque told reporters.

Luque added that Maradona’s therapists have linked his behaviour to withdrawal symptoms and the necessary treatment would last “a few days”.

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He did not provide details, but Maradona has a long history of drug and alcohol addiction. Though Maradona has publicly denied use of cocaine, his friends and media reports suggest that he is still addicted to alcohol.

At a press conference outside the private clinic in Buenos Aires, where surgeons spent 80 minutes removing the clot on Tuesday night, the doctor took pains to present an upbeat assessment of the 60-year-old’s overall condition.

The doctor said that the legend footballer is doing well and his CT scan came out well. “We were even dancing. Yes, we danced!” the doctor said. The doctor said Maradona “agrees” with the diagnosis and would remain in the clinic.

Earlier Thursday, he said doctors were happy with the former player’s condition: “He can walk, talk to me….It’s very early this, but the recovery is excellent.”

World Cup winner Maradona had been taken to hospital in La Plata — where he is the coach of top-flight side Gimnasia y Esgrima — on Monday for a series of tests after feeling unwell.

A scan revealed the blood clot, and on Tuesday he was transferred to the clinic in a northern neighborhood of the capital.

Fans have flocked to the clinic to leave banners showing the star in his prime and messages of support for the ailing icon.

Alongside Brazil’s Pele, who turned 80 last month, Maradona is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

Maradona, who turned 60 on Friday, has suffered ill health before. He has survived two heart attacks, and also contracted hepatitis and underwent gastric bypass surgery.

Prior to falling ill, Maradona had been depressed, his lawyer Matias Morla said on Wednesday.