Iraq Deny Diego Maradona Talks

Diego Maradona is on the brink of becoming coach of Iraq and wants to take the country to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, Argentine agent Hernan Tofoni has told Reuters news agency.

Maradona, who is acting as a consultant for the UAE club Al Wasl that he used to coach, is awaiting the outcome of a meeting of the Iraqi Football Federation to be held on Friday to discuss the Argentine's candidacy for their vacancy.

"Diego is really enthused and phones us every day. He doesn't just want to coach (Iraq) for the next six months but long term," said Tofoni, who is heading up talks with Iraq for the Argentine company World Eleven.

"He is excited by the fact that it's a challenge and that he'd be going to replace Zico," added Tofoni, referring to the Brazil great who quit as Iraq's coach last month.

Tofoni, a registered FIFA agent, said he put Maradona's name on the table when Iraq approached World Eleven looking for an Argentine coach and "they liked the idea".

He said there would be no obstacles for Maradona to leave Al Wasl, where he coached for 14 months until last July, to take up the Iraqi post.

Iraq have played at one World Cup finals, in 1986 in Mexico where Maradona led Argentina to their second title.

The Middle Eastern nation are third in Group B in the fourth round of Asian World Cup qualifiers. Japan lead with 13 points from five matches, while Iraq are equal on five points with second-placed Australia, who have a match in hand, and Oman.

The 52-year-old Maradona, one of the greatest players, has a modest record as coach.

Although he led Argentina to the World Cup finals in 2010, his side lost 4-0 to Germany in the quarter-finals.

However the Iraqi Football Association denies it is negotiating with Maradona to take over as a coach of the national team.

Deputy IFA head Abdul-Khaliq Masoud tells The Associated Press the association isn't in talks with Maradona "and doesn't have any intention to hire him."

Masoud's comments Friday came a day after an Argentine soccer official was quoted saying Maradona was a leading candidate to take over as Iraq coach. The Buenos Aires daily La Nacion reported that Maradona was close to signing a deal with Iraq.

Former Brazil great Zico resigned as Iraq coach last month over what he said was the Iraqi association's failure to live up to its commitments. Zico had been coach since August 2011.

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Diego Points Sergio to Real

Sergio Aguero's father-in-law, the great Maradona, has urged the Manchester City striker to quit England for Real Madrid at the end of the season.

'Kun' has only been at the Etihad since last summer when Roberto Mancini paid a club record £38million to Atletico Madrid for his services. 

Aguero has enjoyed a better-than-expected debut campaign in the Premier League, scoring 17 times despite a series of niggling injuries. 

The latest of those resulted a public telling off by boss Mancini after it became known the striker was suffering with blisters as a result of an anaesthetic freeze spray, applied after a knock against Chelsea.

And now, after City's shortcomings in Europe (they failed to escape the group stage in the Champions League), Aguero has been urged Maradona to jump ship for Spain.

Maradona told Radio de la Red: 'Kun has to play for Real Madrid. Even though he is flying at City, the best thing would have been to sign for Madrid. He made a mistake.

'Now, as he is doing so well, it will be difficult to get him from City. However if Madrid want someone, they get them. Florentino [Perez, the club boss] has no limits. It's a question of convincing City - but not with money because they have plenty of that.'

Spanish newspaper AS reported on Tuesday that the La Liga leaders were considering a swap deal that would involve sending Gonzalo Higuain plus £8.5m the other way. 

The striker, who is an international team-mate of Aguero, has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea as well as clubs in Italy, including Juventus. 

AS claim Aguero has already discussed a potential move back to the Spanish capital with team-mates, and that there is a growing feeling a move will materialise this summer.

Real manager Jose Mourinho, though, has dismissed the story, claiming that the country's media are trying to destabilise his team as they chase a domestic and European double.

The Portuguese, speaking at a press conference ahead of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against APOEL Nicosia, said: 'You (the press) want to destabilise the squad. Last week I had signed for (Manchester) City, (Iker) Casillas was going to Schalke, Higuain to Malaga...'

On the Higuain-Aguero story, he added: 'The front cover of (newspaper) AS is false. If you want me to comment on false front covers then forget it.' 

Meanwhile, the club's director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueno also dismissed the suggestion of selling Higuain.

'Rumours seem to be inevitable,' he told the club's official website. 'But we are delighted with Higuain. He's scored 24 goals in 20 league games and just remember I was the league's top scorer with 19.

'He is a world-class striker and we intend for him to stay here many years. He arrived here very young and we regard him as a club player. He has always behaved impeccably, whether he plays or not.'

The report in AS added that a strong relationship between Real and City's owners - Perez and Sheikh Mansour - enhances the chances of a deal going through, while Mancini falters on his own prime target, Arsenal's Robin van Persie.

The Italian has made no secret of his admiration for the Dutchman - who is the Premier League's leading marksman - but has been met with resistance from Arsenal and the player's family.

Mancini, meanwhile, will listen to offers for Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez.

Maradona in Fans Confrontation

Diego Maradona has called opposition fans "cowards" after allegedly being involved in a confrontation following a match in the United Arab Emirates.

The trouble started during his club Al Wasl's 2-0 UAE Pro League defeat at Al Shabab, whose fans allegedly started abusing players' wives and girlfriends.

Maradona is understood to have climbed up into the stands to protect his wife.

"Some people are cowards," Maradona told Gulf News. "They only attack women and have no courage to confront men."

He added: "This is the first time I am upset with the fans. If they are angry with me they should know that I [climbed the stands] for my wife because someone was calling her names.

"They shouldn't be angry with me, they should be angry with the people who did this. They are cowards, not real fans.

"I accept defeat but I am not happy with what happened against the fans tonight."

Security, players and Maradona helped wives and girlfriends to exit Al Wasl's stadium, based in the United Arab Emirates. Local media reported that no one was hurt.

It was also reported that Al Wasl player Juan Ignacio Mercier's girlfriend tripped and fell down the stairs as she left the venue, with Mercier then helping her to safety.

Al Shabab coach Paulo Bonamigo told Gulf News that he had not seen the incident.

"By the time that was happening we were already down the tunnel," he said.

"I don't think it had anything to do with our players. So it wasn't a problem with us. I have no comment."

Maradona, who led Argentina to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup, signed a two-year contract with the club in May.

Al Wasl are currently fifth in the UAE equivalent of the Premier League - the UAE Pro League - 15 points behind leaders Al Ain.

Maradona Needs Tax Meeting

Diego Maradona wants to clear things up with Italian tax authorities so he can visit his old friends in Naples again.

The Argentine soccer great writes in Naples' Il Mattino newspaper, "I want to return immediately to Naples and speak with the authorities ... I'm not a tax evader and I want to show it."

Maradona's Italian debts stem from alleged unpaid taxes during the time he played for Napoli from 1984-91, when he helped the club win its only two Serie A titles.

In previous visits to Italy in recent years, tax police have confiscated two Rolex watches and a diamond earring from Maradona.

In 2010, plans for a match in Naples celebrating Maradona's 50th birthday had to be abandoned because of threats from tax authorities.

Maradona Injured in Car Crash

Vernioca Ojeda and Maradona

Diego Maradona has suffered minor injuries in an accident on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

The Argentina legend and his partner Veronica Ojeda were taken to hospital after the car he was driving hit a bus.

Maradona, 50, reportedly hurt his knee and Ojeda her hip, but Dr Oscar Cicco, a director at Hospital de Ezeiza, said they were "in a perfect condition".

He added: "They've hardly suffered any injuries and came to the hospital by themselves as a precautionary measure."

Maradona's mother is currently in hospital and local media reported that he was on his way to visit her when the accident happened in the suburb of Ezeiza.

At present Maradona is waiting to take over as coach of Al Wasl in the United Arab Emirates, his first job since departing as Argentina boss following the 2010 World Cup.

Earlier this week, Maradona stepped in to demand more support for Argentina after the host nation received heavy criticism for their performances at the Copa America.

Sergio Batista's side drew 1-1 with Bolivia in their opening match on 1 July and were also held by Colombia five days later before beating Costa Rica 3-0 on Monday.

Maradona captained his country to World Cup glory in 1986 and coached them for two years.

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Maradona Agrees Two Year Deal in Dubai

Maradona at 2010 World Cup

Diego Maradona is to take over as coach next season at Dubai's Al Wasl, the club vice-chairman Marwane Ben Bayatt announced on Monday

"We have reached an agreement with Maradona and we will release details later," Ben Bayatt said.

The 50-year-old Maradona was manager of the Argentina national side at last year's World Cup in South Africa, but lost his job after they lost 4-0 to Germany in the quarter-finals. He has been out of coaching since then.

He paid a visit to the Al Wasl training facility and headquarters at the weekend.

Al Wasl are currently fourth in the domestic league and have been looking for a coach since firing Sergio Farias in March.

Diego Maradona has been hired on a two-year contract.

Al Wasl officials said the contract was for two seasons and that Maradona would be responsible for leading the club "to new heights."

Al Wasl says that Maradona is currently on his way back to Argentina and is expected back next month.