Maradona eyes Portsmouth role – report

Diego Maradona is ready to quit his job as Argentina manager and join English Premier League side Portsmouth, a report citing the footballing legend’s lawyer claimed here on Thursday.

Maradona, according to an article in Arabian Business, has already lined up four international stars to help new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim’s Fratton Park revolution.

Al Fahim, who is close friends with Maradona’s cousin Remigio, is said to want to appoint the 48-year-old as the club’s global ambassador.

Maradona’s lawyer, Angel Oscar Moyano, in a confidential e-mail published in the magazine, claimed: “He (Maradona) has got top players ready and he is even ready to leave the Argentine national team.”

According to the Dubai publication, an Al Fahim advisor has confirmed that talks between the club and the Argentine manager’s cousin have taken place about a possible role.

In his e-mail Moyano suggested Maradona had Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o, Valencia duo David Villa and David Silva, and Kun Aguero of Atletico Madrid, lined up for the south coast side.

However, Eto’o was on the verge of tying up a move to Inter Milan on Thursday.

Al Fahim has said he believes Maradona has the ability to transform Portsmouth’s fortunes.

“I do not know if Maradona is a good coach,” he conceded.

“What I think is that he should be president of a club and have the right to buy and choose players.

“At Napoli he started from scratch and built a club. He has the power to transform football teams.”