Diego Maradona has to follow a strict diet set by doctors in order to lose weight and not to gain kilograms again, his doctor Francisco Holguin said on Thursday.

The former Argentine national soccer team captain, who on Saturday underwent a surgery to have his stomach reduced, was released on Wednesday and continued his recovery at his flat of Cartagena, at the Colombian Caribbean tourist resort Cartagena.

Maradona, 44, weighed 121 kilograms prior to the operation and specialists say that within 10 months his weight will drop to 70 or 75kg.

"We gave Diego a very strict and clear diet, he will start in four or five weeks," said Holguin.

He added that Maradona will little by little do some physical exercises, which will be increased in intensity.

Source: Xinhua