He said: “I want to tell everyone that I am fine, that I am not, neither was I interned.
“In the halftime of the game against Nigeria, my neck hurt a lot… I was checked by a doctor and he recommended me to go home before the second half, but I wanted to stay because we were risking it all. How could I leave? I send a kiss to everyone, thanks for the support!”
The post was accompanied by a picture of the former footballing star with a medic.
Following the game, Maradona, who drove Argentina to glory at Mexico ’86, had been pictured looking in far better health by Patricia Villegas, president of Latin American broadcaster teleSUR.
She reported Maradona had boarded a flight to Moscow, sharing a picture of him on what looked to be a luxury jet.
She wrote: “1:41 am Russia. About to (fly). Diego: Are you in hospital?”
The health fears came amid criticism for Maradona over his crude celebration of Argentina’s winner against Nigeria.
Seconds after Marcos Rojo’s 86th-minute strike hit the back of Nigeria’s net, television cameras showed Maradona thrust middle-finger gestures with both hands.
BBC screengrab of Diego Maradona celebrating Argentina’s second goal during the match against Nigeria (BBC/PA)
At the finals in Russia, Maradona has been a notable presence at all of his country’s matches, watching from the stands. And when Rojo cracked in Argentina’s second goal in a hard-fought 2-1 victory in St Petersburg that carried the team through to the last 16, he held nothing back.
Swinging his arms exuberantly, he also appeared to shout out an insult before cameras turned away from the former Barcelona and Napoli player, who has had a number of personal problems since his playing days.
Gary Lineker, hosting BBC One’s coverage of the game, said of England’s one-time nemesis at full-time: “There’s a danger of him becoming a laughing stock I’m afraid in many ways.”
BBC sports presenter Dan Walker wrote on Twitter: “And that’s why you don’t show Maradona no matter how good he was in his prime”.
– Press Association
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
