At 37 years of age, Diego Forlan is about to play in his eighth different country as a professional footballer.
His insatiable desire to play football is admirable, and he cuts the figure of someone who will continue to seek out new experiences until he physically can't play any longer. India is his next destination, as he has signed for Mumbai City FC, but he made it very clear that if Manchester United were ever in a jam, all they have to do is call.
Forlan writes a weekly column for The National, and while explaining his reasoning for joining Mumbai City FC he revealed that he rejected an offer to play in England this season because he will only play for Manchester United, and he couldn't resist a little dig at Liverpool in the process.
So, why India? It is different, for a start.
I had offers to play in England this summer and last. The only team I will play for in England is Manchester United.
If Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford all were out of the picture, I would be happy to go on an emergency loan and help out United. Maybe play at Liverpool away, score a goal or two and then make way when the injured come back.
I had offers from Spain and Italy, too. But I feel that I have done my time in both countries, sampled the life there and enjoyed myself. Now I am ready for something new.
Expert level trolling from Forlan there.
It's funny, he was always divisive among the fans during his time at Old Trafford, as he mixed the sublime with the ridiculous far too often to nail down a starting place, but his brace at Anfield was enough to cement him as a hero. Had he not scored those two goals past Jerzy Dudek he would almost certainly not be talked about in the same manner that he is, but the song says 'he came from Uruguay, he made the scousers cry' and it can still be heard around the stadium on match day.
His best football came away from Manchester United, but he knows where he stands with the fans and he plays up to it well. It's going to be interesting to see how he gets on in India, but from the sounds of things he knows exactly what he is getting himself in for and is doing it purely because he wants to play football.
[via TheNational.ae]
