International

Diego Maradona has publicly recognised a 29-year-old son born from an extra-marital affair whom he snubbed for years.

The football great’s soap opera life took a new twist as he emerged from his home near Buenos Aires on Thursday night to pose for pictures with Diego Junior after telling him: “You’re my son.”

The emotional reunion occurred during a dinner organised by Maradona’s girlfriend Rocio Oliva.

It is believed to be the first time the pair had seen each other since 2003 when Diego Junior, born in September 1986 from Maradona’s extra-marital affair with model Cristina Sinagra while he played for Naples, met him briefly at a golf tournament.

An Italian court named him as the footballer’s son after his famous father refused to take a DNA test.