Maradona lapping up ´paradise´

Al Wasl coach Diego Maradona said he is loving life as a manager in Dubai, labelling the city ‘paradise’.

The 51-year-old Argentine legend, who took up his position at the United Arab Emirates club last May, also admitted he could never find such peace when playing for Napoli in Italy.

“Dubai has given me tranquility, serenity, work, stability, I am close to my grandson, my daughter can come to visit whenever she wants, and I can visit my father in my holidays,” he said to Sport360.

“If I look back on my life, I have found paradise. In Italy, it was impossible for me to live in Naples. I could not find peace.”

There has been speculation that Maradona could leave Al Wasl before the end of his two-year contract, but he dismissed the rumour.

“I see myself renewing because I think in spite of everything my work is valued. It is a great place for me. It is a great place to stay,” he said.

“I did not come here just to finish the month, get my salary and that is it. No. That is not who I am. It is not my personality. I live the game, and from the moment it’s finished I am already thinking of the next one.”

Maradona claimed that it was impossible not to enjoy Dubai, re-instating his desire to stay with the club.

“That is why I am saying, ‘I am strapping on the seat belt. The other coaches can just go by and put their tickets away because I am not leaving here’,” he said.

“I am not just passing by Dubai, for those who do not know it, it is their loss because they said in two months I would not adapt. But we found Disney World for adults here. How are you not going to have fun here? This is Dubai.”