Diego Forlan has retired from international football.
By Alex Hough
The former Manchester United striker currently with Villarreal in La Liga, told Uruguayan coach Jorge Fossati that he no longer wanted to be taken picked for the national team.
Forlan’s father, Pablo stated: “Diego personally communicated his decision to Jorge Fossati, in a meeting face to face, that he didn’t want to hinder the progress of the national team and wanted to take a step back.”
Forlan was unhappy that he had been selected by Fossati for the recent World Cup qualifiers yet had been kept on the bench. His contribution was limited to just 20 minute appearances towards the end of one match, and didn’t even play in Uruguay’s recent 0-0 with Bolivia in La Paz.
Fossati, who is facing a struggle to qualify for the 20006 World Cup finals, accepted Forlan’s decision.
“Diego asked me for a meeting, we talked and he told me not to select him if he wasn’t going to play.
“The act of coming to tell me those things face to face appeared commendable to me, and reflects well on him as a person. He knows that I can’t promise him anything, and can’t guarantee football to anyone.”
The Villarreal forward did however score twice against Argentina after coming on as a substitute last week, an act that shows that his attacking prowess will be missed by his country.
