Sport

Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan starts his professional tennis career next month

Before you say anything, yes, we know that's technically a padel raquet.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 22nd October 2024

In a surprising sporting story, ex-Manchester United forward Diego Forlan is set to restart his days as a professional athlete half a decade on from hanging up his boots – only this time it will be as a tennis star.

Former Man United striker Forlan, now 45 years old, played for the Red Devils between 2002 and 2004, going down as a bit of a cult hero among fans even with only just over a dozen goals for the club – mainly because of that one he scored against Liverpool.

The Uruguayan officially retired back in 2019 following a successful career that spanned nearly three decades, but now Uruguay’s 2010 World Cup Golden Boot winner is set to swap his studs for a tennis racquet this November.

At an age when the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are retiring from the sport, Forlan is getting back in action.

While it might sound a little left-field at first, the fact is that before Diego Forlan the footballer who arrived in the Premier League just after the Millennium, the striker actually played plenty of tennis as a kid and at one point looked destined for tennis.

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It was only in his teens that he officially decided to direct all his attention towards the beautiful game and started his youth career at his boyhood club, Peñarol, before getting his first senior contract at Independiente in 1997.

After impressing in a number of amateur games, the former athlete will make his professional tennis debut alongside 32-year-old Federico Coria in a double event back in his home country.

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An official announcement from the tournament organisers reads: “Attention tennis and sports fans! This year at the Uruguay Open, we have an UNMISSABLE duo in doubles: Argentine tennis player Federico Coria and former Uruguayan football player Diego Forlan.”

‘Cachavacha’, as he was sometimes known, is actually already part of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and holds a 45+ singles ranking of 108, having won eight matches and lost three.

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The Uruguay Open fixtures are at Challenger Tour level – the second-highest professional tier in tennis – but should Forlan and Argentine partner Coria progress, this could be the start of a whole new career who’s already enjoyed a lifetime as a professional athlete.

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If you look back through history, there have been all manner of sports personalities that have changed disciplines and gone on to have plenty of joy too.

Michael Jordan trying his hand at baseball, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was an American footballer before a wrestler and even Stockport’s very own Paralympic hero Dame Sarah Storey was winning medals as a swimmer way before she became a cyclist.

We don’t know how serious the prospect of becoming a full-time professional tennis player is in his mind and his age will no doubt be a big factor but who knows, maybe Forlan will see the same fortune?

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Featured Images — Ailura (via Wikimedia Commons)/Diego Forlan (via Instagram)

Sport

Tyson Fury says he hasn’t spoken to his wife in ‘three months’ whilst preparing for Usyk rematch

Danny Jones Danny Jones Tyson Fury hasn't spoke to his wife Paris for three months preparing for Usyk 2 rematch

Tyson Fury says hasn’t spoken to his wife Paris for three whole months while preparing for the much-anticipated Oleksandr Usyk rematch.

The Manc fighter is set to face the Ukrainian counterpart in the ‘Undisputed’ sequel, simply dubbed Fury vs Usyk 2, which will result in one unified heavyweight champion of the world.

Usyk’s victory over the Wythenshawe-born boxer back in May saw him take that title for the first time since 1999 (the only man to have done so in the four-belt era) but with the rematch nearly upon us, Fury could be set to steal that title away from him.

With that in mind, the pressure has clearly been on ever since he lost the first bout and, according to Tyson himself, he hasn’t spoken to his wife Paris Fury for virtually a quarter of a year as part of his immensely strict training camp.

Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the match this weekend, he claimed: “I haven’t spoke to Paris in three months – not a word. [I’ve] not spoke to anyone, I haven’t been on my phone.”

Explaining that he simply removed all distractions to get his head in the right space ahead of the title decider, ‘The Gypsy King’ has been known to isolate himself from the rest of the world before a big fight in the past, but cutting contact with your spouse of 10 years and partner for nearly two decades is wild.

The 36-year-old went on to detail that in order to give himself the best shot at winning, he couldn’t keep switching between “beast mode to dad mode to wife mode” and so on.

In separate interviews with other outlets ahead of the highly-awaited rematch, Fury has made various other big claims about what boxing fans can expect from his own performance, including an admission that he needs to be “more focused this time and not do as much showboating” in the ring.

Nevertheless, he also assured the media that he isn’t a quitter and has promised he will not just “f*** up” his 37-year-old opponent but “retire” him. Usyk, on the other hand, has warned he will be a different challenge than the last time the two faced each other, predicting a knockout victory too.

Having downed Tyson more than once the last time around, he’s understandably confident of his chances.

Bold words from the pair of them, indeed, but this is all just part and parcel of the usual pre-fight build-up; all we really know is that Usyk won the previous face-off and Fury is the one with the point to prove.

While younger brother Tommy Fury recently had to pull out of his scheduled fight against Darren Till, during which tensions seriously boiled over during the first press conference, it looks as though there is no risk of more cancellations and any more ‘will they won’t they?’ antics between these two at least.

The rematch, or ‘Fury vs Usyk 2: Undisputed’ to give use its full title (the latest in Saudi Arabia’s growing fight scene and live sports programming as part of Riyadh Season) takes place this Saturday, 21 December, with the two set to clash once again from 10:25 GMT.

Who do you think will emerge victorious from this one and, more importantly, when do you think we’ll see the third and ‘final’ fight when they inevitably demand a trilogy?…

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Featured Images — paul62_2017 (via Flickr)/Netflix (via screenshot)

Sport

A Manchester City fan has died after a medical incident at Manchester derby

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Manchester City has confirmed one of its supporters has died after a medical incident at the derby match. Credit: The Manc Group

A Manchester City fan has tragically passed away after a medical incident at the Manchester derby yesterday.

The club has confirmed that one of the club’s supporters died after collapsing during the match against Manchester United.

They wrote: “Manchester City are aware of the tragic news that one of our supporters passed away following a medical incident at yesterday’s match.

“The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with their family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

Man City and Manchester United faced off at the Etihad Stadium yesterday, with Man United eventually taking the win thanks to a 90th-minute goal by Amad Diallo.

An eyewitness told the Manchester Evening News they saw the fan being administered CPR at around 4:10pm.

People have been leaving tributes to the Manchester City fan, who has not yet been named, online.

One person wrote: “RIP that city fan. No one should go to a football match and not come home again. RIP”

Another said: “An important reminder amongst all the squabbling over yesterday’s result is that the football isn’t everything. Thoughts are with his family, RIP blue.”

Someone else posted: “Rip blue. Thoughts are with your family and friends at this sad time.”

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Featured Image – The Manc Group

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