Former Uruguay footballer Diego Forlan, who played for Manchester United and Atletico Madrid among others, will compete in doubles at the professional Uruguay Open tennis tournament in November, organisers said on Tuesday.

The 45-year-old former striker, a 2010 World Cup semi-finalist and a Golden Ball winner, has switched to tennis since his retirement in 2018, playing on the international senior tour.

Forlan, who plays left-handed, will team up with current world No. 101 Federico Coria of Argentina in the main draw at the November 11-17 clay court Challenger Tour event in Montevideo after being given a wild card.

“Yes, our number 10 is smashing it in tennis too,” organisers said of Forlan’s participation.

“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.”

Forlan, who used to be a promising tennis player in his teens, has played four Masters tournaments. He reached the singles quarter-finals in the Lima tournament and also won the doubles title with his partner without dropping a set.

The upcoming tournament in Montevideo is an ATP Challenger Tourevent, one rung below the main ATP Tour.

The New York Times reported that Forlan, who still looks lean and fit, plays tennis four times a week at the Carrasco Lawn TennisClub in Montevideo, which hosts Uruguay’s home Davis Cup ties and the Uruguay Open Challenger.

As a footballer, Forlan had scaled many peaks. He is a Premier League winner with United, was the top goalscorer in the La Liga more than once and also won 112 caps for Uruguay, scoring 36 goals. He has a new goal now.

With inputs from Reuters