The great Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona was hospitalized for medical exams on Monday, his personal doctor said.
Less than a week after his 60th birthday, the soccer legend was hospitalized, but his doctor quickly downplayed the reason.
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“It’s not a serious situation and we haven’t come for an emergency,” Leopoldo Luque told reporters outside the clinic in La Plata, south of Buenos Aires.
Although he didn’t provide details about Maradona’s condition, Luque said his patient would undergo a number of medical exams.
“He is an elderly patient with a lot of stress in his life. It’s a time we need to help him. It’s very difficult to be Maradona, ”said Luque of the star.
The doctor ruled out any connection with the coronavirus pandemic that has struck the South American country. Most of them are still in custody.
Maradona, who has a history of drug and alcohol abuse and poor health, is at high risk of coronavirus complications if infected.
He has had two heart attacks and contracted hepatitis in the past.
“Diego is fine, but he can be much better. I didn’t find him the way I wanted to see him. I had a conversation with him before and I said to him, “Let’s go to a clinic to improve a little,” and he said, “Well, let’s go,” said Luque.
The former Argentine captain, who led his team to triumph at the World Cup in 1986, is currently the coach of the Argentine SuperLiga club Gimnasia.
Maradona is considered the greatest player of all time, alongside the Brazilian Pele.
Pele paid tribute to his football legend.
“My great friend Maradona. I will always greet you. I will always take root for you. May your journey be long and may you always smile and make me smile too! Happy Birthday! “Pele wrote on Instagram along with a picture of him and Maradona.
The news came a week after Maradona Pele wished a happy birthday on his 80th birthday and joined what he called “the universal tribute to the king”. Pele and Maradona often fight for the title of best footballer in history. The Brazilian and Argentine were jointly named the best player of the 20th century by FIFA in 2000.
He briefly escorted his players to the club’s training ground on his birthday, but had obvious walking difficulties and had to be helped away by his assistants after just 30 minutes.
“It breaks my heart to see him like this,” tweeted one of his daughters, Giannina, the next day.
“I didn’t visit him that day, but he was doing very well the day before,” his doctor told reporters outside the clinic in La Plata, where Gimnasia is based.
Maradona went into self-isolation last month after a bodyguard showed symptoms of the virus, although he later tested negative.
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