Diego Forlan (Montevideo, 42 years old) pick up the phone. It is ten o’clock in the morning in Uruguay and, while he remembers his arrival to United, with 22 years, and to Atleti, with 28, of which he is a legend (198 games), in the background you can hear the noise of his four children. His laughter, his voice. Until very recently, their soccer games were with them.
-He hung up his boots in 2019, but has put them back on. To play in the Old Boys, of the University League in Uruguay.
-(Smile) Yes, but it is more amateurish. A more social league, between friends and acquaintances, nothing more.
-I read that the first match was difficult for him, already accustomed only to playing with his children.
-Yes, because the distance is long. One stops running those long distances and, as much as I do a lot of sports, the custom of what is run in soccer… But it was just the same, even if it cost a little (laughs).
-And his sons? Will anyone continue the Forlán saga?
-They are very coordinated children, but they are still very young. The oldest is six years old. Imagine how long it will take to find out if they play tomorrow or not. The advantage they have is that they are coordinated, and that is important for the sport.
-Do you follow LaLiga?
-Yes Yes. I see it all. In addition, I comment on LaLiga for ESPN from the United States.
-How do you see the duel between Atlético and United? They both arrive with many doubts.
-Very interesting. Both technicians are going to have to make a very strategic approach in terms of tactics. If Atleti gives Manchester United a lot of space to counterattack and take advantage of the speed of their forwards, it can be uphill. But I think Cholo has it very clear. He knows who he’s going to be up against and will try to get the lines as close together as possible to not give him those spaces where he knows United strikers can be more dangerous.
-There’s Christian. He has scored 25 goals for Atleti in 35 games.
-Who hasn’t scored goals for Cristiano!
-He was 22 when he arrived in Manchester. He played 98 games.
-Yes, many in the bank.
-How was the change in the Argentine league, from which you came, to reach Europe, the Premier…?
-Very big. He came from South America and it was a huge change. Wherever you came from, it was going to be. It helped me a lot. Learn, titles, experience.
-So you could already sign for Atlético?
-I was about to sign for Atleti several times before doing it but, for one thing or another, it didn’t happen. They were twice. One while in Argentina and another at United. And lastly, the one I ended up signing on, so the third time was the charm (laugh).
-You also arrived at an Atleti very different from now. An Atleti in need of winning again…
-These are seasons. The results were not always as they have been in these ten years, with Cholo. There were many ups and downs. A bit similar to what they are experiencing this year.
-Yes…
-You won, you lost… And, as we arrived, and went down that same path, we got more regularity. We were able to win titles and change a bit that wave that was more negative than positive and that, later, with the arrival of Cholo, the change of institution, the stadium, Atleti became another type of team at our time.
-How did you experience Agüero’s withdrawal? They were teammates at Atleti. I guess he was shocked by what happened.
-Yes Yes. The truth is yes. A shame. She was returning to Spain, where she knew she had performed very well, after spectacular years at City. And, well, one always wants to see a player, be it Kun or of whatever level, who says, by his own decision: “My career has ended here”. And not having that possibility… And even less someone you know, who could continue to give us a lot of football. Unfortunately it didn’t happen that way. Luckily he had an exceptional career. And no one takes that away.
-Have you talked to him?
-Nerd. I have not talked with him. I left him alone. I’ll have a chance to chat.
-You who were with Ferguson, can you be compared with Cholo?
-Compare No. Everyone has their style, their team, their time. And they are totally different. What can be assessed is the number of years. Ferguson, Wegner, Tabarez, el Cholo. We are talking about great coaches who make a difference by spending so many years at a competitive level in great teams.
-You said, on ESPN, that Ferguson got angry…
-(laugh) Yes. But he is a very close guy. Very good people.
-Which strikers do you like the most right now in world football? And it’s not worth Mbappé…
-(laugh) Vlahović. And, obviously, Mbappé, Haaland…
-How do you see Suarez?
Louis surprises you. There is a moment when he is not scoring goals and he ends up scoring one like the one he did over the weekend, spectacular. And in such an important moment, the previous one in a match like the one against United.
– He already jumped to the benches. Would you like to train in LaLiga?
-Yes Yes. I’d love to. But you have to keep working. I am just starting. And hopefully tomorrow will be…