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Maradona calls up Ortega for Haiti friendly

The 36-year-old River Plate playmaker, who won the last of his 86 caps in 2003, was included in a squad of 17 home-based players to meet Haiti in Cutral Co in the southern Andean province of Neuquen on May 5.

"The truth is this is a great joy for me to be in the national team, the maximum I've ever experienced in football," Ortega, who played at the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cups, told a news conference after a River Plate practice.

"After such a long time not wearing the shirt it is something nice, unique. I know this doesn't mean I'll be at the World Cup because for that (the coach) worked with other players and that's fine. I'm grateful to (Maradona) for taking me into account to play this match."

The call-up comes after a troubled few days for the little player known as "Burrito" (donkey), who got into a running argument with Estudiantes defender Leandro Desabato during River's league match on Saturday before crashing his car on the way to training on Monday.

Desabato called Ortega a drunkard alluding to the player's drink problems. Ortega retaliated with a studs-up tackle.

Defenders: Matias Caruzzo (Argentinos Juniors), Juan Manuel Insaurralde (Newell's Old Boys), Ariel Garce (Colon), Paolo Goltz (Huracan), Luciano Monzon (Boca Juniors)

Midfielders: Juan Mercier (Argentinos Juniors), Patricio Toranzo (Huracan), Nicolas Olmedo (Godoy Cruz), Sebastian Blanco (Lanus), Leonel Vangioni (Newell's Old Boys), Facundo Bertoglio (Colon)

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