Transfer preview: Diego Forlan

Name: Diego Forlán Corazzo "Cachavacha"
Born: 19 May 1979 (age 32)
Nation: Uruguay
Hight: 179cm
Weight: 77 kg
Club: Atletico Madrid
Contract Expires: ???
Release clause: ???


Statistics:
At Independiente 91 games, 40 goals. At Man Utd 98, games 17 goals. At Villareal 128 games, 59 goals. At Atletico 195 games, 95 goals. In Uruguay NT 73 games, 29 goals. 2 time winner of Pichichi and Golden shoe award.

Features:
Forlan is striker who can play as No.9 or behind No.9. His feet are equal and he can shot we both feet from distance, with great long range shot. In front of goal he is/was great finisher. Diego is natural leader and has very good vision. Proven in La Liga, proven in Europa League, proven in World Cup. Big game player. He is made for one thing - scoring goals.

Conclusion:
So Forlan is proven in La Liga, in Europe and on World stage, he speaks Spanish so he can fit in team. He is not typical Barca player, but we can play him as central striker (any other player can play on wings). He would be bench player, but still in big games he can do more than Bojan. Diego would be good signing for next 2 year, until Bojen, Jeff or someone third find their form.

Money:
With every day his price is lower and lower, first becouse of his age, second becouse his form and third becouse his relations in Atletico. His price tag is arround €12M, but with good negotiators and with his good will we can buy him for €10M. But... yeah but... his wages are big, so if he wanna play for Barca he should accept pay cut. Sending other player + money to Atletico is another option.

Video:
Pichichi season 2008/2009 all goals.


Goals 2009/2010


Forlan vs Fulham (one of my favorites)


Forlan @ World Cup

He'd be a very good cheap guy, the lad's a champion. Since Aguero's rescuing himself of the sinking ship of Atletico Madrid then really you've got to think that Forlan would do the same.

Forlan is at the age when he can't demand a lucrative transfer. I think he would have been happy to stay at Atletico provided he felt valued there. However having been reduced to a bench role and having openly said that he is not a fan of the club, things are not in the best state. A new coach of his choice might prompt him to stay but I think it's best he moves.

Apparently he has been under-performing all season due to a conflict with the coach. When he played the friendly with Uruguay he was back to his former level of ability. Probably not the kind of professionalism we want in the squad.

alfredandrew wrote:Apparently he has been under-performing all season due to a conflict with the coach. When he played the friendly with Uruguay he was back to his former level of ability. Probably not the kind of professionalism we want in the squad.

Also heard something about rifts in the squad and players purposefully not passing him the ball.

To be honest, Forlan's decline is strange, its not if his skills have eroded or he physical ability is leaving him hugely.

It seems a mental/motivation thing, he simply isnt involved and engaged in games for whatever reason.