TOKOYO // Uruguay’s most-capped player Diego Forlan is unlikely to be offered a new contract by Japanese club Cerezo Osaka, local media reported on Monday.
The 36-year-old striker, who played 112 games for Uruguay and scored 36 goals before announcing his international retirement earlier this year, has expressed a desire to remain in Japan.
“If possible I wanted to sign off by getting Cerezo promoted to the J-League first division, but a contract’s a contract,” Forlan told Japan’s Nikkan Sports.
“I’ve done everything I could. I don’t know what the future holds but [if I stay in Asia] I’d prefer to stay in Japan.”
However, after an illustrious career at Manchester United, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, Forlan has endured a torrid spell in Japan, getting relegated in his first season and failing even to make the bench in the Cerezo’s game at the weekend.
“I’ve informed the player that a contract extension will be difficult,” said Cerezo president Minoru Tamada, likely signalling the end of Forlan’s stay in Osaka.
Forlan won the Golden Ball as the 2010 World Cup’s best player and finished joint top-scorer with five goals as Uruguay reached the semi-finals in South Africa, making his final appearance for his country against Colombia at last year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Follow us on Twitter at our new home at NatSportUAE