Argentine 1980s soccer star Diego Maradona will be transferred to a psychiatric clinic, Monday or Tuesday next week, where he will continue his alcohol addiction treatment, his personal doctor Alfredo Cahe said on Thursday.

Cahe added Maradona "is becoming aware of the seriousness of his illness" and drinking problem which caused him an acute-toxic hepatitis for which he underwent two emergency hospitalizations in the past weeks.

Maradona, 46, has been hospitalized six days in Los Arcos sanatorium in Buenos Aires city.

Cahe said the former soccer star may be interned in Clinica Avril "with professionals he trusts" and added that his laboratory tests "indicate his health is improving slowly".

"Diego is becoming aware of the seriousness of his illness. He has been given a detailed account of his illness. He ignored the consequences his alcohol addiction had brought him, beyond the pains he suffered...the liver damage, shock, fainting, vomiting ...," Cahe said.

"As of this moment, the main treatment is centered in the alcohol addiction issue," the doctor said.

Editor: Donald