Diego Maradona is in Dubai to manage Al-Wasl club team

Diego Maradona yesterday laughed off reports he will earn an annual package of US$8 million (Dh29m) as he swept into Dubai yesterday to start his reign as manager of Al Wasl.

The pedigree of the man who was named by Fifa as the Joint Player of the Century alongside Pele, who coached Argentina at last summer's World Cup, means he is certain to command the sort of salary which will make him the highest paid coach in the Pro League, but neither Maradona or the club were willing discuss the finer details of the deal yesterday at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel.

"We are very, very far away from those numbers [$8m]," Maradona said. "I am not a player anymore, I am a trainer. People who really make money now are the players. The coaches don't make that kind of money. I have not come here for a vacation, but to work."

Marwan bin Bayat, the Wasl chairman, would also not be drawn on the subject of money. "Maradona is a different case," bin Bayat said. "With him come image rights, commercial activities and appearance at special events - that will certainly bring income to the club as well as Maradona. We are in discussion with three leading companies, who are specialist in marketing and managing stars. I think we are going to sign a deal within a week from now."

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The club, owned by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid, have already signed the Chile international Edson Puch and Mubarak Hassan, from Al Fujairah, and have made the capture of a midfielder a priority. The fact the club made a failed bid for Diego Forlan, the Uruguay striker, would also suggest they are in the market for a striker from overseas. The futures of Alexandre Oliveira, Mohammed al Shaibah and Francisco Yeste, the three club's foreign players, would appear to be in doubt as Maradona seeks to reshape the squad.

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"I would like to bring good players here, but I cannot mention names," Maradona said. "The only thing I am going to say, and I am going to be very clear about this, is that the players I will bring, they are going to have to play with passion and be ready to give their life on the pitch.

"I will bring people who will show the same commitment [towards Al Wasl] as these players.

"I have come here to win the championship, so we are going to play hard and try to win every match. Don't have any doubts about that.

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"We are not going to focus on the stars," bin Bayat said. "We are going to get the young, hungry fighters. We have certain names from Latin America and maybe a few from North Africa.

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