Diego Maradona leaves the hospital

Diego Maradona leaves the hospital

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona left the hospital on Wednesday, accompanied by a convoy of supporters, eight days after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain.

The accented Maradona did not speak to the crowd of journalists and fans who had gathered outside as he left the Olivos clinic in Buenos Aires by ambulance shortly after his doctor Leopoldo Luque told reporters he could return home. Private security guards lift barriers to screen ambulances before leaving.

The convoy of Maradona supporters followed the ambulance after dozens of people waited outside the clinic for days holding photos of him and shouting encouragement. Luque previously posted a photo of himself hugging the 60-year-old man wearing a bandage on his head via Instagram.

Maradona is expected to continue rehabilitation in Tigre, 30 kilometers north of Buenos Aires near the home of his daughter Giannina. "Diego is probably going through the most difficult times of his life," said his lawyer, Matias Morla, as quoted by AFP. He called it a "miracle" lump "that could have claimed his life, could be detected."

"What is needed now is to be with family and surrounded by health workers," said Morla. "Together with the doctors and his family, Diego will be what he should be, that is, happy."

The former Argentina captain who won the World Cup underwent surgery to remove a lump lodged between his brain and skull last Tuesday. He appeared unwell during a brief appearance on October 30 to commemorate his 60th birthday at the Gimnasia y Esgrima stadium, the Argentine Primera Division team he coached.