Man Utd cult hero steps up new sporting career and enters professional tournament​

After a brief spell in management following the end of his playing career, Diego Forlan has followed his passion for tennis and has stepped up the level of his opposition

​After a brief spell in management following the end of his playing career, Diego Forlan has followed his passion for tennis and has stepped up the level of his opposition After a brief spell in management following the end of his playing career, Diego Forlan has followed his passion for tennis and has stepped up the level of his opposition   

Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan has stepped his tennis career up a notch as he enters a tournament once won by Grand Slam winner Juan Martin Del Potro.

The former Uruguay international built a stellar career in football featuring for the likes of Villarreal and Atletico Madrid in addition to the Red Devils, and since stepping away from the sport has found passion on the tennis court. The 45-year-old has entered a number of masters tournaments and earned a ranking in the 35+, 40+, and 45+ age categories.

Now, Forlan is set to join up with Argentine ace Federico Coria, who has ranked as high as world number 49 and currently sits at 78, to participate in the Uruguay Open next month. The tournament is set to take place between November 11 and November 17 and organisers are excited about Forlan’s appearance.

Entering the doubles competition, Forlan will hope to continue an impressive stint having reached the quarterfinals of the ITF MT1000 Lima 45+ tournament in Peru over the summer.

An announcement from the tournament read: “Attention tennis and sports fans! This year at the Uruguay Open, we have an UNMISSABLE duo in doubles: Argentine tennis player Federico Coria (currently number 78 in the ATP ranking) and former Uruguayan football player Diego Forlan.

“Yes, our number 10 is smashing it in tennis too! This year, Forlan has competed in more than three +40 tournaments in Montevideo, also standing out in the MT1000 in Lima of the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour.

“Fun fact: Forlán is left-handed at tennis, the opposite to how he played football, and his right-hand stroke is the most powerful. What do you think of this news? Do you have faith in this duo?”

Europa Press)

Grant Halverson)

Coria responded to the news by posting: “Uffff, the double of the year”.

It’s an impressive later in life move from Forlan who reached some steady heights in football. The striker earned a move to Manchester United in January 2002, and while it took him until the following October to score his first Premier League goal, he landed a topflight title and FA Cup win with the Red Devils.

Forlan was not short of honours as he helped Atletico Madrid to the Europa League in 2010 and Uruguay to Copa America glory in 2011, in addition to Brazil’s Campeonato Gaucho with Internacional in 2013, a Primera Division win with Penarol in 2016 and a Hong Kong Premier League title with Kitchee in 2018.

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​Mirror – Sport