Maradona has not managed since he left the Argentina post after last summer's World Cup but spent the weekend in Dubai amid speculation he was set to sign a two-year deal.

The 50-year-old attended a club training session last night after which the club revealed they expected to name their new boss "in the next 24 hours".

Should that be the case it does not look like the former Argentina international will be at any formal unveiling after a post on the club's official Twitter page revealed he had left the country.

"The legend, Maradona left Dubai for Spain this morning," the Twitter post read.

Al Wasl sit fourth in the UAE table and have been without a permanent manager since they sacked Brazilian Sergio Farias last month.

Al Wasl chief executive Ashraf Ahmad Mohammad later confirmed talks had taken place with Maradona.

"It is now left up to him to respond. But I think things will be clearer in the next few days," he told the Gulf News newspaper.

"We have made Maradona an offer and we are grateful to Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Director, Dubai Executive Council, for his support.

"We are waiting for some minor things to happen and the deal is in its closing stages. We will then make the announcement."