Forlan force

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In a football-crazy country like Uruguay, four out of five boys want to become professional players in Europe.
Diego Forlan was no exception to the dream, but unlike the huge majority the balanced, tenacious striker made it come true.

“He realised the dream of us all,” says Andres Mendez, 32, who has been friends with Forlan since childhood. “The group of friends cannot see him as a star. It is hard to see kids on the street wearing Diego’s shirt, but for us he is the same friend as always, he never changed: tremendously generous, humble, responsible, supportive and a good friend for his friends.”
Forlan was born on May 19, 1979 in a residential neighbourhood in Montevideo. He went to private primary and secondary schools, he speaks English and even started studying International Relations at university, although his football career led him to drop out.
He is not a typical player for Uruguayan football, where most players come from poor families. Forlan played tennis as a child, and he likes that sport, along with table-tennis and golf, as much as he likes football, friends say.
For a few years, he has been going out with Argentine model Zaira Nara, 23, who unlike other WAGs in the region keeps a low media profile. Forlan stood out as a goal scorer from a very early age.
“In children’s football, his team would score 100 goals, and 90 were by Diego,” Andres Mendez recalls. His brother, Diego Mendez, smiles. “I would score the other 10, but I never played professionally,” he said.
Diego Mendez praises Forlan for being “simple guy, who greatly values everything that life has given him and who did not get dizzy with fame.”
“Of course sometimes, in public, he has to behave a certain way, but he is still the same as always,” he says.
When Forlan returns home to Uruguay, he enjoys family life with his parents and his three older siblings, including Alejandra, who is in a wheelchair as a result of a traffic accident in 1989.
From Argentina, Forlan moved to Manchester United (2002-04) before going to Spanish club Villarreal. He became Villarreal’s most prolific goalscorer in the top flight of La Liga, with 54 goals in three seasons.
Forlan won the European Golden Boot award with Villarreal, and did it again with Atletico Madrid. “He thinks very hard before making a decision,” his friends say.
That is why many were shocked this season when he scored a goal and reacted by insulting home fans at Atletico Madrid stadium Vicente Calderon who had been criticising him.
“It was a moment’s rage,” Forlan explained. “I felt they had been unfair.” Usually, Forlan is keen to talk more with actions than with words, let alone rude words.
A Unicef ambassador since 2005, he always showed great sensitivity on social issues. He promotes the rights of children and teenagers on campaigns in Uruguay and beyond. Perhaps one of those children can also grow up to fulfil his dream.
— DPA