Maradona comeback rocks Argentina

Buenos Aires: Diego Maradona met Argentina Football Association (AFA) chief Julio Grondona to discuss a possible role with the national team but said he did not want to tread on anybody's toes.

The surprise meeting was held on Thursday at the AFA's headquarters amid rumours that coach Jose Pekerman could resign if Maradona was given a position of power on the national team staff.

"I haven't come to tread on anyone's toes and I want this to be made quite clear," Maradona said after the meeting.

"I've come to add something and not to take away anyone's position."

"Time will tell what sort of role I could perform with the national team, if I really am given a role," said Maradona, adding that he would like to travel with the squad for this month's friendly against England in Geneva and Qatar.

"Nothing has been decided but we had a positive discussion. I offered to be part of the group and he (Grondona) said he wanted me to be involved in the national team."

Maradona, who has made a dramatic recovery after undergoing drugs rehabilitation last year and a gastric bypass operation in Colombia in March, already works as a director of Boca Juniors and hosts a weekly television show.

Earlier, Grondona had backed Pekerman and, when asked about when he would talk to Maradona, likened himself to a groom who had been stood up at alter.

"The groom is in the church," he said adding that most of the times, the bride turns up but there are times when the groom is left waiting and leaves with the mother-in-law.

Grondona said he was indebted to Pekerman for taking over last year after the sudden resignation of predecessor Marcelo Bielsa.

Pekerman has been criticised for his side's recent performances -- including a 4-1 thumping by Brazil in the Confederations Cup final in June -- and for continuing to experiment with the side instead of settling on a team for next year's World Cup.

"You can be sure that this president fully backs Pekerman's reign and I will always be grateful to him for taking over at the moment when Bielsa went off in a huff," he said.

"I'm not a man whose memory fails," he added, praising Pekerman's earlier work as the under-20 coach. "He sowed a seed and we have to recognise the benefits that seed is producing for Argentine football."