After six years of being absent from the Argentine National Squad, Ariel “Burrito” Ortega will return to wear the “blue & white” jersey in the friendly against Ghana next Wednesday, the 30th of September. Two months ago, Coach Diego Maradona stated that he wanted Ariel to be in the team and it officially became a reality. In addition, Cristian Villagra returns to the squad, being the second River player to join Maradona’s local squad.
Ariel Ortega has a cap of 86 games and 17 goals with the national squad, all games between 1993 and 2003. Many will remember his great assists and amazing goals through out his career under coaches Alfio Basile, Daniel Passarella, and Marcelo Bielsa. Cristian Villagra was called only once to the national squad resulting as a substitution player in an international friendly against Scotland in Glasgow, back in November of 2008.
Both players have been struggling to keep River alive at the moment, particularly in recent months. Diego Maradona has stated in the past that he has no problems with River, but his constant critiques to the Monumental Stadium and River’s management has distanced himself from the club. Let’s hope Ariel and Cristian leave a good impression for other River players to be called.
