Ortega to miss River-Boca derby for personal reasons
BUENOS AIRES, Oct 4 (Reuters) - River Plate's former Argentina international Ariel Ortega said on Wednesday he would miss Sunday's clash against arch-rivals Boca Juniors for personal reasons.
'It's a delicate situation for me,' said Ortega, who failed to turn up for practice on Tuesday.
'I want to get things sorted out and get back to what I was before.'
Ortega declined to say what the problem was.
'I trust you to respect me,' he told reporters. 'I'm no good to myself or the team at the moment.'
Ortega, who played 86 matches for Argentina and scored 17 goals, has struggled to find his form since returning to River, the club where he launched his career, from Newell's Old Boys earlier this year.
Ortega joined Newell's in 2004, ending a 19-month soccer exile after FIFA brokered an agreement in which Fenerbahce agreed to release him for 3 million euros ($3.99 million).
He had walked out on the Turkish club in February 2003.
River and Boca share one of the world's most intense rivalries. Boca lead the Apertura championship, which is nearing the halfway stage, by four points from River and have a game in hand.
