Maradona flew in to Milan's Malpensa before heading off to Turin,where he hopes to finalize a sponsorship/PR agreement with Kappa, the kit supplier to Juventus and the Italian national side.

He is also due to meet old friends such as Juventus defender Ciro Ferrara, a close former teammate from Maradona's halcyon days with Napoli, and Juventus and ex-Napoli general manager Luciano Moggi.

However, Turin is also home to state prosecutor Raffaele Guariniello, the man leading an investigation into doping in Italian soccer.

Maradona, whose career ended with cocaine and other drug bans,has already had one session with the judge during a visit last November.

Asked if he would be having a second meeting with Guariniello, Maradona replied: "There's nothing planned, but if I have to go, then I will."

Maradona is still idolised by supporters of Napoli, who were twice Italian champions during his spell there from 1984-91 but who are now languishing mid-table in the Serie B.

"Napoli are close to the Serie C and I ask God that they pull through," Maradona told ANSA news agency.
"But I cannot forget what Napoli players said about me in the past.I'm free to talk about anyone, but I respect everyone. But what they said about me, is still up here," he said pointing to his throat.

If Maradona was the best player in his time, he reckons that a fellow countryman occupies that place today - Gabriel Batistuta. "He's the greatest of them all," Maradona said.

The Argentinian, accompanied by his business manager Guillermo Coppola, is expected to stay for three days - long enough for them to be invited to Juventus' home match here against Parma on Sunday night.

He is also expected to make a trip to Rome and, according to theGazzetta dello Sport, to meet Italian tax inspectors about unpaid contributions estimated to be between $3.5 million and $25 million.