Football: Maradona makes retirement ultimatum

(First Edition)

DIEGO MARADONA said in Seville yesterday that he would retire from football if his transfer from the Italian club, Napoli, to the Spanish side was not settled by tomorrow. 'The decision has been made,' he said. 'I'm sorry for me because I had an enormous desire to play. But enough is enough.'

Seville had offered pounds 2.5m for the 31-year-old former Argentinian international - but Napoli are apparently holding out for twice that amount. In June, Maradona completed a 15-month suspension from football for taking cocaine.

The president of Seville and his Italian counterpart met at Napoli's 5-1 Uefa Cup win in Valencia on Wednesday but, according to Maradona, did not discuss his transfer. 'What were they talking about,' he asked, 'comparing Italian and Spanish food?'