Soccer legend Diego Maradona accepts the son he had during extra marital affair

Maradona’s daughter Jana, 20, who also suffered the same fate as her stepbrother for years despite her mum Valeria Sabalain’s court fight to force the footballer to recognise her as his flesh and blood after their extra-marital affair, was also at the intimate family dinner.

Maradona only got to know Jana, who has been using his surname since she was 12, after a secret meeting two years ago at a Buenos Aires gym he was using.

As well as Jana and Diego Junior, Maradona has two daughters by ex-wife Claudia Villafane, Dalma, 29, and Giannina, 27, and a three-year-old son called Diego Fernando by former lover Veronica Ojeda.

Two other women, a Cuban and an Argentine, are believed to have filed paternity claims against Maradona which have yet to be accepted in court.

The footballer, , planted a kiss on his son’s cheek in front of waiting journalists before admitting: “I’m very happy because I’ve been reunited with my son.

“I’ve been reunited with him as I was reunited with Jana.

“I love him a lot and he’s very like me.”

The men hugged each other with tears in their eyes as Maradona opened the door to his home in Nordelta in Buenos Aires province to greet Diego Junior before making way for Jana so they could have their picture taken.

Diego Junior had flown to Argentina at the start of the summer to take part in the country’s version of Strictly Come Dancing.

Noelia Antonelli, a friend of Maradona’s fiancee Rocio Oliva, said: “It was Diego’s initiative.

“There was a hug and lots of emotion. When Rocio phoned Diego Jr before the meeting, she said: ‘Your dad wants to speak to you.’

“He simply said ‘Hello’ when his dad picked up the phone and Maradona said: ‘What? In the messages you leave me you say ‘hello old man’ and now you’re not going to call me dad.”

Speaking ahead of the emotional meeting with his dad, Diego Jr said: “We’ve spoken on the phone and exchanged WhatsApp messages and now we’re in contact I’m hoping we can meet soon.

“I’m keeping to myself what the messages say because they’re personal things that will stay in my heart.

“Hugging my dad would be the most beautiful feeling in the world.

“What my mum has told me is that she got to know a very special person who loved her a lot and looked after her.

“Afterwards things happen in life, we were separated for nearly 30 years and God willing we can meet as soon as possible

“My dream one day is to sit down with my siblings at the same table and be able to eat as a family.”

Maradona is thought to have told his daughters by his ex-wife that Diego Jr was the son of a brother.