Frustrated Diego complains of persecution

Argentina legend Diego Maradona yesterday said he would love to coach his former club Napoli but an ongoing wrangle with the Italian authorities over unpaid tax is preventing his return. Maradona's seven-year spell in Italy saw him attain demi-god status for Napoli fans after he helped the club to Serie A wins in 1987 and 1990.


Maradona

But he walked away from the country with an unpaid tax bill and now owes 37.2 million euros. "Every time I set foot in Italy I feel persecuted, whenever I return I have a horrible feeling," he told the Corriere dello Sport newspaper in an interview. "I've had it with the Italian taxman who's made me feel like a thief, a cheat," he added.