Argentinean football legend Diego Maradona arrived back Buenos Aires Sunday evening, five days after he started to receive treatment in Uruguay for an alleged cocaine overdose.

Maradona boarded an ambulance plane at Laguna del Sauce, near Punta del Este, 140km east of Montevideo with his wife Claudia Villafane. The 39-year-old former Argentine World Cup skipper was brought to the plane in an ambulance but was able to walk on board.

He touched down at the Argentine capital's Jorge Newbery airport at 20.05 P.M. local time (2305 GMT), Argentine television reported.

The former star was admitted to intensive care last Tuesday with what was described by his doctor as a life-threatening heart condition. Tests on Wednesday revealed he was suffering from a cocaine overdose.

On Saturday, Maradona denied through his lawyer that he had been on drugs in Uruguay. His lawyer said Maradona told him that he had not taken drugs since coming to Uruguay at the New Year. Maradona's doctor Alfredo Cahe will accompany him to the Fleni clinic in the Argentine capital, where he is expected to undergo intermediate care and further tests.

An extensive rehabilitation program was said to be worked out for him. But it was yet to decide where it will take place.

Among possible sites were Canada and Cuba.