Diego Maradona is reported to have informed his family members before his death to preserve his body over time.

The Argentine football icon died on Wednesday from cardiac arrest at his home in South America at the age of 60.

His body has been laid in state at the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires and according to Marca, he could be the fourth person in the history of Argentina to undergo the requested process.

Former military general Jose de San Martin, and former Argentinian president Juan Domingo Peron and his wife are the personalities mummified on the Argentine land.

Journalist, Martin Arevalo who broke the news of the late footballer’s demand before his recent birthday is yet to confirm whether it will be honoured, with his body expected to be taken to the Jarden de Bella Vista Cemetary.

 According to Napoli president, Aurelio De Laurentiis, Diego “is still alive”, refusing to accept the fact that the influential figure is dead. He confirmed on their recent decision to name the stadium after their former talisman.

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“Maradona is a myth,” De Laurentiis said. “He is still alive because he will never die.

“He will remain the number one, the biggest player in the world. There is no comparison with anybody else. He was a genius.

“He was a controversial man. He was a real protagonist and what he did was so great which will cancel everything he did badly in his private life. A hero is a hero.

“In each of the two big screens there is the face of Maradona watching the players. There is also the name of Diego Maradona everywhere

“The stadium will be named Diego Armando Maradona.

Maradona’s former team which he won two Serie A titles with during his spell honoured the legend in their Europa League match against Rijeka. The players won the No. 10 jersey at the Stadio San Paolo.

“Yesterday was fantastic when the team went out on the field with all the jerseys having number ten Maradona written on them. It was very emotional for everybody.”]