The Italian city's council on Friday approved the resolution, proposed by Naples mayor Luigi de Magistris, to change the stadium's name to honour the World Cup-winning great who scored 115 goals in seven years at the club.

Maradona died last week after suffering a heart attack at his home in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, less than a month after his 60th birthday.

"I've been in talks with local authorities for the past 17 years, I've always asked to buy the stadium and rename it 'Diego Armando Maradona'," Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis told Sky in Italy.

"If then, for tradition, we will need to call it both 'San Paolo' and 'Maradona' so be it. It won't change much, but it's only right that Maradona has this recognition.

"Even if we were to build a whole new stadium, I would name it like that.

"Your years here remain indelible in the memories of the people of Naples - symbolic of a coveted redemption and yearned-for resurrection."

Maradona signed for Napoli in 1984 and helped the club conquer the northern giants Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan - seen as the aristocratic establishment of Italian football - while, briefly and gloriously, turning Serie A on its head.

Australian Associated Press