ROME - Diego Maradona has stated that he "wants to meet" famous actress Sophia Loren to find out how she "beat the taxman."

 

Football icon Diego Maradona recently sparked outrage from Italian officials after he made an obscene gesture in a television interview when questioned about taxes. He owes Italy €39 million in unpaid taxes and is now seeking financial advice from Sophia Loren.

 

Diego Maradona stated on Thursday that he would "like to meet Sophia Loren," so that she could explain "how she managed to find the strength to tame the monster that is the taxman." On Wednesday, the Italian Supreme Court ruled that the actress did not owe any back taxes, a case that she had been fighting since 1974. Ms Loren had even been arrested at Rome's Fiumicino airport and sentenced to a 17-day jail term in 1982 for not filing her tax returns properly. Now Diego Maradona believes that she is the perfect person to assist him with his tax case.