MARADONA ON BRINK OF LEARNING FATE

MARADONA ON BRINK OF LEARNING FATE

Diego Maradona's future as Argentina coach could become clear on Tuesday night when the federation president Julio Grondona discusses the details of Monday's meeting with his board.

Maradona said he would no longer coach Argentina after they were eliminated from the World Cup by Germany at the quarter-final stage, but on Monday morning he revealed he is keen to sign a new contract - so long as he is allowed to retain his entire backroom staff.

The 49-year-old met with Grondona in Ezeiza - a city close to Buenos Aires - on Monday, and the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) president will discuss the matter with board members on Tuesday night.

AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis Bialo told Radio La Red: "Maradona told the AFA president his thoughts about the present and future and what he was expecting regarding his staff. The president's idea was the opposite and they discussed about that.

"After both parties expressed their own points of view, Grondona told Maradona that he was going to communicate his requirements to the members' executive committee in tomorrow's meeting and, according to the decision they make, then they were going to meet again.

"The meeting went through different moments. Some of them were kind, some others tense, but talking about football always.

"Only Maradona and Grondona attended the meeting. Gossip and speculation by the media are just theories and hypothesis and I cannot say anything about that.

"The executive committee will be given a spoken review of the meeting by Grondona and, according to what he reports, the committee will make a decision or they could even delay it."

Reports suggest Grondona wants the 1986 World Cup winner to pen a new four-year deal, but one of Maradona's assistants, former Argentina defender Oscar Ruggeri, has been criticised by the AFA chief in the wake of the team's World Cup exit.

Argentina's next game is a friendly against Ireland on August 11 in Dublin, and the squad is due to be announced on Tuesday.
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MILNER IN 'AMICABLE' VILLA TALKS

James Milner has been included in Aston Villa's squad for the Guadiana Cup in Portugal this weekend after holding "amicable" talks with club manager Martin O'Neill.
The 24-year-old returned to pre-season training today after being given a month's holiday following England's early exit from the World Cup.
Milner has been the subject of one £20 million bid already from Manchester City which was rejected by the midlands club.
He was reported to be upset last week after O'Neill had said the former Newcastle player had "intimated" he wanted to leave Villa.
But O'Neill is including Milner in his pre-season plans for the cup clashes with Feyenoord and Benfica on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
He and club chief executive Paul Faulkner met Milner and his representative, PFA executive Matthew Buck, after training at Bodymoor Heath today.

Villa issued a statement which reads: "James Milner trained with the rest of the Villa squad today at Bodymoor Heath. "He and the manager, along with chief executive Paul Faulkner and the player's representative, Matthew Buck, had an amicable conversation. "While James will not play in tomorrow's game at Walsall, he will fly with the squad to Portugal on Wednesday ahead of the Guadiana Cup in which Villa will compete with Benfica and Feyenoord this weekend." O'Neill is waiting to discover whether City will lodge an improved bid for Milner who is valued at around £30 million. But Harry Redknapp admitted Milner was out of Tottenham's price range as well as insisting he has made no approach for Villa winger Ashley Young. Milner will be happy not to have to tread the same path as Gareth Barry in avoiding having to play against Walsall tomorrow evening. Barry was the subject of much verbal abuse from Villa fans after he had made clear his desire to move to Liverpool in the corresponding friendly two summers ago. He eventually stayed at Villa for another 12 months before moving.