Watch Diego Forlan smash rival at tennis after ex-Man Utd star’s career change

DIEGO FORLAN is best known to fans around the world for banging goals in during his brilliant 21-year playing career.

But now aged 45, the former striker has traded free-kicks for forehands as he competes on tennis’ ITF Tour.

The former Manchester United star hung up his boots in 2019, following a spell in Hong Kong with Kitchee.

He has since gone into managing, with spells managing Penarol and Atenas in his native Uruguay.

In addition to coaching, Forlan has also taken up tennis in his retirement.

This week, the former striker travelled to Peru to play in an ITF MT1000 event in Lima.

Forlan is competing in the 45+ category, and has gone on quite a run.

He defeated Chilean Gonzalo Carreno 6-0, 6-2 in round one, before overcoming Peruvian Jorge Hernandez for the loss of just one game in round two.

The iconic ex-striker then battled past Pablo Rojas-Holch 6-3, 6-3 to book a quarter-final with Brazilian Antonio Amaro da Silva Filho.

This isn’t the first time that Forlan has competed in tennis.

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Last July, while the world’s best were donning their pristine whites at Wimbledon, Forlan was slugging away on a clay court in a 35+ event in Montevideo, reaching the quarter-finals.

He then battled through to the semis at a 40+ event in Punta Del Este, before another final four appearance in the 45+ category at Montevideo in February.

In footage circulating online, Forlan can be seen serving before striking a forehand.

Despite having possessed a deadly right foot on the football pitch, Forlan appears to be a lefty when it comes to tennis.

Reacting to a clip of Forlan in action, Tennis Channel wrote on social media: “Is there anything Diego Forlan can’t do?”

While a second commented: “Wow, multi talented.”

Another joked: “The next Paolo Maldini!”

Maldini, 55, famously entered an ATP Challenger event in his hometown Milan in 2017.

He received a wildcard for the doubles field, in which he played alongside Stefano Landonio.

Maldini and Landonio were beaten 6-1, 6-1 by seasoned doubles players Tomasz Bednarek, who achieved a career high No44 ranking, and David Pel – who reached the third round of Wimbledon last year.