Diego Maradona will be undergoing surgery for a blood clot on the brain, his personal doctor told reporters on Tuesday (3 November).
The Argentine football hero was admitted to hospital yesterday (2 November) and was due to have the operation which will address the condition which is often caused by a head injury and can put unwanted pressure on the brain.
Maradona's doctor, Leopoldo Luque, told reporters that the procedure which was due to begin within hours was a 'routine surgery'.
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He added: "We are going to operate today. He is lucid, he understands, he agrees with the intervention."
Maradona, 60, was admitted to the Ipensa clinic in La Plata, Argentina on Monday for anaemia and dehydration and it is believed that he will now be transferred to Olivos Clinic in Buenos Aires province.
Maradona, who won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986 and is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time, coaches local club Gimnasia y Esgrima.
He last appeared in public on his 60th birthday last Friday (30 October) before his side's league match against Patronato.
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Reuters reported that dozens of fans of Gimnasia y Esgrima have converged on the hospital since Monday evening, waving flags and holding posters with messages of support as they waited for news of Maradona's health.
One of those dedicated fans, Diego Bermudez, 41, spoke outside the hospital and said: "What we want the most is for Diego to get out of all this. He can, he is the greatest, the greatest in the world."
Fans have taken to social media to wish him a speedy recovery. One wrote: "Hope he get through this.. Amazing Player."
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Another added: "Aw man, even as a bitter English fan, hope you pull through Diego, you'll always be the GOAT to geezers of my age."
A third commented: "A genius with a football. Wishing him well and hopefully he gets through it successfully."
Someone else wrote: "I love to hate this man since the obvious incident back in '86. I was 12 then and he broke my young heart! But, he's a bona fide Legend, and let's not forget his second goal against us! 'Awesome' just doesn't cut it! I sincerely hope he pulls through."
Featured Image Credit: PA
