Diego Maradona to stay at Al Wasl

Argentine legend retracts threat of walking away from job as head coach Pro League side did not recruit new players.

Diego Maradona had signed a two-year contract with Al Wasl. Kamran Jebreili / AP Photo

DUBAI // The Diego Maradona saga took a new twist yesterday with the Argentine saying he would "respect his contract" with Al Wasl and would be in charge of the team next season.

The joint Fifa Player of the Century's future at Wasl has been the subject of speculation for some weeks during which he had repeatedly threatened to walk out on the Dubai club.

However, the coach had a three-hour meeting with club management on Wednesday night after which Maradona acknowledged that his recent outbursts were not in the best interests of the team and that he understood the club’s disappointment, a statement from the club read.

“As a reassuring measure, he has reaffirmed that he will not be leaving Wasl under any circumstances and that he will respect his contract that runs until the end of next season,” it said.

Maradona signed a two-year contract in May but recent rants by the former Argentina national coach suggested that he was close to the end of his tenure.

This led to speculation that Wasl were already talking to several “high-profile” replacements, reports the club dismissed as “media speculation”.

A tweet on the club’s official Twitter account yesterday said: “He [Maradona] has acknowledged that he understands the management’s disappointment at his recent outburst.

“Maradona now ensures everyone that he will not leave Wasl under any circumstances and will respect his contract.

“In the light of this meeting, there shall be further meetings to study the team’s needs and future signings based on the allocated budget.”

The former Argentina captain's previous threats to leave the Pro League club came out of frustration that he believed the management had failed to deliver on promises to strengthen the playing squad.

The club said yesterday: “Maradona discussed a number of issues with the club management and a strategic plan for next season has been identified.

“Further discussions are planned to study the needs of the team, along with future signings within the allocated budget.”

Maradona’s main demand has been to increase the money available to sign players of his choice, both foreigners and Emiratis.

Wasl will end the season without any domestic silverware. They are seventh in the Pro League standing with three games left and a top four finish that could earn them an Asian Champions League berth, while mathematically possible, looks unlikely.

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