Manchester United cult hero Diego Forlan preparing for shock career change with ATP debut aged 45

Diego Forlan is set to embark on a new career after entering an ATP tennis event - five years after his retirement from football.

The former Manchester United star has been trying his hand at tennis and has enjoyed relative success so far.

2 Ex-United striker Forlan will compete in the Uruguay Open next month Credit: Getty

At 45 years of age, Uruguay icon Forlan has entered a number of ITF Masters tournaments and earned a ranking in the 35+, 40+, and 45+ age categories.

He then attracted media attention for reaching the quarter-finals of the ITF MT1000 Lima 45+ tournament in Peru where he won three matches in straight sets.

Now he will make his professional debut next month when he competes in the ATP Uruguay Open next month - which sits on the second-tier Challenger Tour.

He will be playing alongside Argentina's Federico Coria, who has previously ranked as high as number 49 in the world last year, in the doubles event.

The tournament is set to take place between November 11 and November 17.

Confirming Forlan's appearance in the tournament, the Uruguay Open couldn't hide their excitement.

A statement read: "Attention tennis and sports fans! This year at the Uruguay Open, we have an UNMISSABLE duo in doubles: Argentine tennis player Federico Coria (currently number 78 in the ATP ranking) and former Uruguayan football player Diego Forlan.

"Yes, our number 10 is smashing it in tennis too! This year, Forlan has competed in more than three +40 tournaments in Montevideo, also standing out in the MT1000 in Lima of the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour.

"Fun fact: Forlan is left-handed at tennis, the opposite to how he played football, and his right-hand stroke is the most powerful. What do you think of this news? Do you have faith in this duo?"

Coria responded to the news by posting: "Uffff, the double of the year."

2 Forlan famously played for a number of major European sides including Man United

Forlan was an avid tennis player in his youth, but gave up the sport at 16 to focus on a career in football.

The iconic striker played for a number of top clubs in Europe including Manchester United where he scored 17 goals in 98 games after joining in 2002.

He then went on to play for Villarreal, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid - scoring a hugely impressive 96 in 198 games for the latter.

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Forlan won the Premier League title at United, while also winning the FA Cup and then the Europa League with Atletico.

He also scored 36 goals in 112 caps for Uruguay, helping them to win the Copa America back in 2011.

His goalscoring exploits on the international stage also saw him scoop the Golden Ball at the 2010 World Cup having been the joint top scorer with five strikes.

And he will now be hoping to replicate his huge success on the pitch to the court ahead of his eagerly-anticipated tennis debut.

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