Maradona to interview Castro for TV show
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-27 09:33

HAVANA, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Argentine soccer hero Diego Armando Maradona appears to have landed a big interview in his new career as TV showman: Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona (L) embraces former Argentine soccer star Claudio Caniggia during Maradona's weekly television show "La noche del 10" (The Night of the 10) in Buenos Aires September 26, 2005. Picture taken September 26, 2005. [Reuters]

An employee at a Havana health retreat where Maradona lived for four years struggling against cocaine addiction said on Wednesday the football legend was back in town with a team of producers to interview the Cuban leader.

"Maradona arrived yesterday and looks like a young boy he is so thin," said the source at La Pradera health spa.

The man once hailed as the greatest player of his generation looks upon 79-year-old Castro a friend and a father figure who helped him kick drugs.

Maradona captained Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986, but cocaine abuse undermined his career and health.

In March he underwent an operation in Colombia to staple his stomach and reduce his ballooning weight.

A slimmer Maradona appeared on Argentine television on August 15 for the debut of his weekly show "La Noche del 10" (The Night of the Number 10) -- in reference to his shirt number on Argentina's national team.

His first guest was Brazil's Pele, who is considered the greatest soccer player of all time and also wore the number 10 shirt.

Besides Castro, Maradona has said he plans to have soccer players Zidane and Ronaldo on his highly rated show as well as basketball great Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods.