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Maradona’s call-ups pass 90 with friendly squad

BUENOS AIRES - Diego Maradona has added Jose Sosa and released Fiorentina’s Mario Bolatti for Argentina’s friendly with Costa Rica next week, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on Tuesday.

Maradona, currently in South Africa visiting Argentina’s World Cup base in Pretoria, has now taken his tally of call-ups in his 14 months as Argentina coach past 90.

He had called up 83 for his first 14 matches and with Tuesday’s addition of midfielder Juan Mercier, there are nine newcomers in the 19-man squad to face Costa Rica in the western city of San Juan next Tuesday.

Sosa, who has joined his former club Estudiantes on loan from Bayern Munich, has been capped five times, the last in Maradona’s first match in charge against Scotland in Glasgow in November 2008.

The most experienced players selected were midfielder Federico Insua with 11 caps and striker Martin Palermo (10).

Midfielder Bolatti, who scored the goal against Uruguay in October that secured Argentina’s place at the World Cup, has joined Fiorentina after spending a year on loan at Huracan from Porto.

Revised Squad:

Goalkeepers: Cristian Campestrini (Arsenal, Argentina), Nelson Ibanez (Godoy Cruz)

Defenders: Carlos Matheu (Independiente), Guillermo Burdisso (Rosario Central), Gaston Diaz (Velez Sarsfield), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Luciano Monzon (Boca Juniors), Matias Caruzzo (Argentinos Juniors)

Midfielders: Enzo Perez (Estudiantes), Federico Insua, Nicolas Gaitan (both Boca Juniors), Franco Razzotti (Velez Sarsfield), Walter Erviti (Banfield), Juan Mercier (Argentinos Juniors)

Forwards: Gabriel Hauche (Argentinos Juniors), Jose Sosa (Estudiantes), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Mauro Boselli (Estudiantes), Jonathan Cristaldo (Velez Sarsfield).