BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Argentine national soccer team coach Diego Maradona on Wednesday criticized Jorge Valdano, sports directive of Spanish club Real Madrid, saying he "is a big rival" for the Argentine players of that club.

"We have a big rival inside the Real Madrid, whose name is Valdano: first he clean Gabriel Heinze, then Fernando Gago and he was not able to do the same with Gonzalo Higuain because he scores more goals than Benzema and Raul," Maradona said.

Maradona said he thinks "it is disgusting than an Argentine affects another Argentine."

Heinze left the Real Madrid to play at Marsella club of France, Gago tried to leave Real Madrid for lack of continuity and the Italian club Juventus wanted to hire Higuain.

Maradona also rejected the critics he has received from the press for having summoned to the moment 102 players to the national team and he added that "I will summon 150" players.