Diego Maradona will celebrate his wife's birthday on January 24 in Dubai after his arrival on Tuesday night. This was announced by Mohammed Humaida, Maradona's agent in the Middle East and Africa to Gulf News yesterday.

"Maradona was supposed to arrive last night. But since he told us that he wants to celebrate his wife's birthday this week in Dubai he delayed his arrival to be on Tuesday," Humaida said.

Maradona may sign a contract to play in the UAE. He is likely to play in a testimonial match for Abdul Rahman Mohammed, former Al Nasr skipper, at Al Maktoum stadium on March 8.

Liberian George Weah, German duo Luthar Mathaeus and Kohler, Iranian Karim Bagheri, and other soccer stars from the GCC, Asian and Arab countries, will also be invited to play in the testimonial.

Maradona's agent said that the soccer legend held a press conference yesterday in Frankfurt, and his wife will join him today in Germany. "Maradona met the press yesterday in Frankfurt.

His wife will fly today from Argentina to join him, and they will come tomorrow together aboard Emirates, and will arrive at Dubai at midnight Tuesday," Humaida said.

"The Maradona press conference with the UAE media will be on Wednesday 1pm at the Dubai Press Club," Humaida said. "He will stay more than the three days as it was scheduled before.

Maradona himself told us that he likes to stay more days in the UAE as his programme will be busy all the time. As long as he is staying in the UAE, we will try to make it an unforgettable visit by taking him to most parts of the UAE," Humaida said.