Maradona to throw lavish party in Naples amid tax dispute

Diego Maradona is planning a 50th birthday party in Naples next month, despite owing the tax man there 37 million euros. The controversial former World Cup winner spent seven seasons at Napoli, heralding the greatest period in the club’s history in which they won two Italian league titles. And having been fired as Argentina coach following their disappointing World Cup campaign, Maradona now wants to return to his second home to have a fiesta.

“Neapolitans, I invite you to my birthday,” he said in La Gazzetta dello Sport.“In life I’ve had it all: a family I adore, a brilliant career and now I want for nothing, and certainly not money. Maradona wants to organise a high-profile friendly match to celebrate his birthday, with former team-mates Bruno Giordano and Brazilian Careca already apparently confirmed as taking part.