A slimline Diego Maradona [Images] arrived in Madrid on Monday saying he had put his health problems behind him and had come to Spain to catch up with old friends and immerse himself in football.

The former Argentina captain was besieged by reporters and cameramen awaiting his arrival on a flight from Cuba and took 15 minutes to leave the terminal building at Madrid's Barajas airport.

"I've come here to get to meet Ronaldo [Images], Roberto Carlos [Images], to talk to Arrigo Sacchi, who I knew when I was in Italy [Images], and to Vanderlei (Luxemburgo)," the 44-year-old told a news conference.

Former AC Milan and Italy coach Sacchi is director of football at Real Madrid [Images], Luxemburgo took over as coach at the end of last year and Brazil's [Images] Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos play for the Primera Liga side.

"I want to immerse myself in football while I'm here and am hoping to go to Barcelona to meet Ronaldinho [Images] and to see Atletico Madrid play in the King's Cup."

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Looking in better shape than he has done since he stopped playing football in 1997, Maradona, whose weight ballooned to 121 kg before undergoing a stomach stapling operation in Colombia in March, said he had lost 27 kg since the surgery.

"I hope to get down to 75 kg because that's what I need to do for the sake of my health, for my children, for the people that love me and for myself," he said.

Maradona, who steered Argentina to World Cup victory in 1986, spent more than a week in the intensive care unit of a Buenos Aires hospital last year with heart and breathing problems. He was then consigned to a psychiatric clinic by his family.

DRUG ADDICTION

In September, he returned to Cuba, where he has lived since 2000, to undergo further treatment for drug addiction under a new more strict regime.

"I've recovered, but I'm not cured," he said. "It is a constant battle. I hope people understand that I've made mistakes in my life, but the real examples in life should be parents and not idols."

Maradona, who played for Barcelona between 1982 and 1984 before joining Napoli, said he was delighted that the Catalans were on the verge of winning the Spanish league title.

"I think Frank Rijkaard has done a great job with the team. He has created a well-balanced team containing a super player like Ronaldinho and a great goal scorer like Samuel Eto'o ... For me Ronaldinho is the best player in the world without a doubt."

He said he was still considering a proposal from his former club Boca Juniors to take charge of the youth team.

"We're in talks at the moment and I would like the job. I'm not interested in getting involved in professional football but would like to be connected with youth football."

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