Cuban TV broadcast images of the Argentine soccer star holding a letter in which Cuba’s revolutionary leader, last photographed in August, insists he’s still alive

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Fidel Castro has written a letter to soccer legend Diego Maradona disputing the rumour that he has died, according to state-run Cuban television network Telesur. It was the first reported word from the Cuban revolutionary leader in nearly three months.

The network funded by Venezuela, Cuba and other allied governments showed photos of Maradona with the letter signed by Castro, 88. Telesur revealed nothing about the contents of the letter, except that it rebutted reports of his death.

Telesur is broadcast on state television in Cuba, where Maradona has been filming episodes of a television show he hosts.

No images were shown of Castro, who has not appeared in public since January 2013, prompting widespread speculation about his health as well as recent rumours of his death on social media.

A serious illness forced Castro to relinquish his duties as president in 2006, handing over leadership to his younger brother, Raúl.

The new wave of speculation about Fidel’s health was prompted in part by his failure to comment after the US and Cuba declared on 17 December that they would move to restore the diplomatic relations ruptured a half century ago.

The most recent official photographs of Castro came out of a private meeting with the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, on 21 August. He was also photographed with the Chinese and Russian presidents in July. Castro was last heard from on 18 October, when he published an editorial about Ebola.