El Burrito is Back! Ariel Ortega Gets an Argentina Recall

I can remember a time (a time before Leo Messi) when every little Argentinean #10 who could dribble a bit got labelled “the new Maradona”. One of the very first to get that label was Ariel Ortega, who rose to prominence in the early ’90s just as El Diego’s powers were fading.

Ortega’s career hasn’t quite delivered what it should have given his talents, and most would agree that his temperament is to blame. His rapsheet involves a lot of alcoholism, headbutting Edwin van der Sar at the 1998 World Cup, and getting a lengthly FIFA ban for walking out on his contract at Fenerbahce. He’s what you’d call a character.

Incredibly, Diego Maradona’s latest surprise as Argentina DT is to recall the now 35 year old Ariel Ortega to the national team, a team he hasn’t played for in six years.

The recall isn’t for the make or break World Cup qualifiers (at least not yet). It’s for the friendly against Ghana next week, for which Maradona is using only Argentina based players.

Still, an odd odd move. Particularly given the current knock against Maradona’s Argentina, that they have too many midget attackers and not enough big #9s. The 5′7″ El Burrito definitely falls into the former category rather than the latter.

Maybe Maradona read our post about him being too Boca biased, and that’s what led to him selecting a man now in his third spell at River Plate?

Or maybe he saw this YouTube highlight video and decided to give Ortega one last chance at international football.

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