Diego Maradona to undergo emergency surgery to remove blood clot

Diego Maradona is to undergo "routine" surgery for a subdural haematoma, his doctor has confirmed.

The Argentina and Napoli great was admitted to Ipensa clinic in La Plata on Monday due to concerns over anemia and dehydration.

His personal doctor, Leopoldo Luque, said earlier on Tuesday that the 60-year-old's condition had been improving and he was keen to leave hospital.

However, after undergoing a CT scan, it has been decided that Maradona will undergo an emergency operation on Tuesday.

Providing an update, Luque told reporters: "Diego is lucid and has agreed to have surgery.

"I'll be in charge of it. It's a routine procedure. His condition is the same as yesterday, only now we've found the cause of it.

"This kind of edema is very common. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (Argentina's vice-president) had one in the past. Diego doesn't remember being hit in the head."

Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986, coaches local club Gimnasia y Esgrima.

He appeared in a fragile state when he briefly made an appearance as his Gimnasia side played a match on the evening of his birthday last Friday.