Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona plans to interrupt his cocaine-addiction therapy in Cuba to spend Christmas at home with his family, against the recommendation of his doctor.
Maradona, 44, will arrive in Buenos Aires on Monday, a source close to his family told Reuters on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity.
News of the visit revived fears of a relapse for the Argentine idol just seven months after a major health scare.
On a visit to Argentina last April, Maradona was rushed to the hospital with heart and breathing problems and spent 10 days in intensive care while throngs of fans held vigil outside the clinic.
His family forced him to enter a psychiatric clinic outside Buenos Aires before returning in September to Cuba, where he has spent the last four years in treatment and is friends with President Fidel Castro.
His doctor, Alfredo Cahe, said he opposed Maradona's decision to disrupt his treatment at the Havana clinic and said he was unaware of the travel plans.
"If he came, he would be interrupting the treatment. I prefer him not to come but we'll see how we manage this," Cahe told Reuters.
Cahe denied local media reports that Maradona had suffered a relapse in his treatment. "All I can say is that everything is under control," he said.
Maradona was born in poverty and went on to become one of of the most gifted players in the history of soccer, leading Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title.
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