Maradona Mobbed As He Returns To Naples

Football legend Diego Maradona has been mobbed on his return to Naples, where he has spoken out against his £32m unpaid tax bill conviction.

The Argentine World Cup winner has rarely set foot in Italy since leaving under a cloud in the 1990s amid claims of collusion with mafia dons and a positive drugs test for cocaine.

It was later claimed by the Italian authorities that Maradona owed the state millions of euros in unpaid taxes.

But he is still worshipped by fans of Napoli, the club he guided to its only two Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990.

Maradona waving to fans gathered below his balcony

At a news conference, the former club captain expressed his desire to be able to return to the city without fear of persecution.

Quoted in the Gazzetta dello Sport, he said: "I want to tell everyone that I have Napoli in my very soul. I've wanted to say so for a long time but there are people who would not let me do so."

The star celebrates a goal for Napoli against AC Milan in 1988

Maradona said he blames senior figures at the club during his time there for the situation he now finds himself in.

"Everyone who drafted my contract is free today. I was out on the training field at the time but now when I come to Italy the financial authorities want to take my earrings from me," he said.

"Why do I have to pay and not them, when I gave my life to Napoli? I am not a victim because I have earned a lot of money but I didn't know anything about the contractual issues.

"I am facing up to the situation because I have not killed anyone."

Maradona was convicted in 2005 and ordered to pay 37.2m euro (£32m), including 23.5m euro (£20m) in interest for late payments.

His lawyer recently said the Italian authorities had cleared the debt, thus allowing him to return to the country. But the tax authorities denied the claims.

The former footballer said: "I want to come back to Italy with my grandson to watch Napoli. I want him to see what his grandfather did here and not be remembered as a tax-dodger, which I am not.

"I want to believe that justice exists and I want to ask that justice system to let me walk freely in Italy and in Naples.

"I want to represent the people but an Argentinian cannot resolve the problems of the Italian people. I hope that all the people who, like me, are involved in this kind of problem come out of it well."

Maradona's infamous "Hands of God" goal means he is less popular in England

Hundreds of fans - some holding shirts with their idol's name printed on the back - turned up to greet the Argentinian as he arrived in the city on Monday, with many shouting "welcome back!" as he was driven away.

Maradona watched his old club, featuring Slovakian Marek Hamsik, draw 0-0 with Udinese on Monday night and told reporters outside a restaurant: "I am delighted to be back in Naples. I saw the game. Unfortunately Hamsik did not score."

Napoli spent years in the doldrums after his departure but have enjoyed a resurgence and currently sit second in Serie A, seven points behind leaders and champions Juventus.

The footballer is best-remembered in the UK for scoring the controversial "Hand of God" goal and one of the greatest solo efforts of all time in Argentina's 2-1 World Cup win over England in 1986.

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