Det argentinske fodboldikon Diego Maradona er få dage efter sin 60 års fødselsdag blevet indlagt på et hospital i La Plata.

Det bekræfter Maradonas læge Leopoldo Luque.

Den skandaleombruste boldkunstner har angiveligt følt sig skidt tilpas gennem længere tid, og nu bliver han indlagt til observation i mindst et par dag, fortæller lægen.

»Han har det ikke godt psykisk, og det påvirker hans fysiske velbefindende,« siger Luque foran hospitalet i La Plata, der ligger en times kørsel fra Buenos Aires.

Foto: Demian Alday Estevez
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»Han er ikke godt så godt kørende, som jeg kunne ønske. Han har brug for hjælp, og det er på tide at hjælpe ham.«

»Diego er en person, der nogengange har det fremragende og andre gange knapt så godt. Lige nu kunne han have det 10.000 gange bedre. Og det vil hjæpe ham at blive indlagt.«

»Det er svært at være Maradona.,« siger Leopoldo Luque, der afviser, at Maradona skulle være ramt af coronavirus.

Nyheden om Maradonas indlæggelse har fået argentinske fodboldfans til at valfarte til hospitalet for at udtrykke deres støtte til ikonet.

Handout picture released by Telam showing football fans listening to Leopoldo Luque (unseen), the personal physician of Argentine former football star and coach of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata Diego Maradona, giving a medical report outside the Ipensa clinic where Maradona has been admitted, in La Plata, Buenos Aires province, on November 2, 2020. - Though Luque gave no details of Maradona's condition, he said his patient would undergo a series of medical check-ups. (Photo by Eva Cabrera / TELAM / AFP) / Argentina OUT / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / NOTICIAS ARGENTINAS - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Handout picture released by Telam showing football fans listening to Leopoldo Luque (unseen), the personal physician of Argentine former football star and coach of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata Diego Maradona, giving a medical report outside the Ipensa clinic where Maradona has been admitted, in La Plata, Buenos Aires province, on November 2, 2020. - Though Luque gave no details of Maradona's condition, he said his patient would undergo a series of medical check-ups. (Photo by Eva Cabrera / TELAM / AFP) / Argentina OUT / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT AFP PHOTO / NOTICIAS ARGENTINAS - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS Foto: EVA CABRERA
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epa08794373 Supporters of former Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona hold a banner with his image outside of Ipensa medical center in La Plata, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, 02 November 2020. Diego Maradona was admitted at the Ipensa sanatorium to undergo a 'general check-up' after a 'mood drop', according to Doctor Leopoldo Luque. EPA/Demian Alday Estevez
epa08794373 Supporters of former Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona hold a banner with his image outside of Ipensa medical center in La Plata, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, 02 November 2020. Diego Maradona was admitted at the Ipensa sanatorium to undergo a 'general check-up' after a 'mood drop', according to Doctor Leopoldo Luque. EPA/Demian Alday Estevez Foto: Demian Alday Estevez
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epa08794319 Guards monitor an emergency entrance to the Ipensa clinic where former Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona was admitted, in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 02 November 2020. Diego Maradona was admitted at the Ipensa sanatorium to undergo a 'general check-up' after a 'mood drop', according to Doctor Leopoldo Luque. EPA/Demian Alday Estevez
epa08794319 Guards monitor an emergency entrance to the Ipensa clinic where former Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona was admitted, in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 02 November 2020. Diego Maradona was admitted at the Ipensa sanatorium to undergo a 'general check-up' after a 'mood drop', according to Doctor Leopoldo Luque. EPA/Demian Alday Estevez Foto: Demian Alday Estevez
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Diego Armando Maradona blev for evigt en folkehelt i Argentina, da han nærmest egenhændigt førte det argentinske landshold til VM-guld i 1986.

Siden er der skrevet utal af skandalekapitler i fortællingen om den lille argentiner, som blandt andet har været involveret i skattesnyd, narkotikabesiddelse, slåskampe på banen og hustruvold.