Diego Forlan hospitalized due to senior soccer injury: he fractured three ribs
The former Uruguayan striker suffered a pneumothorax during a Liga Universitaria de Deportes derby
Diego Forlan, one of the most beloved legends of Uruguayan soccer, had to be hospitalized after suffering a serious injury during a Liga Universitaria de Deportes match in his country. The 45-year-old former Manchester United and Atletico de Madrid player fractured three ribs and suffered a small pneumothorax after a collision during a match between Old Boys — his current team — and Old Christians, in the over-40 category.
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The incident occurred on Saturday in Montevideo, during the derby that ended in a 4-1 victory for Old Boys, in which Forlan had even scored two goals before the unfortunate blow. According to local press reports, the Uruguayan will remain hospitalized until Tuesday, October 21, while he recovers under medical observation.
“I had three broken ribs, numbers 4, 5, and 6, and a small pneumothorax in my lung. They're going to admit me and put a tube in to drain the blood. I'm staying until Tuesday,” Forlan himself explained in WhatsApp audio recordings that circulated after the accident.
“In 20 years as a professional, this has never happened to me.”
The former striker, remembered for being chosen as the best player at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, took what happened calmly and clarified that the play was completely accidental. "It was the play, it wasn't his fault," he said about the opponent who participated in the clash.
He also described how the injury occurred: "My hand is below my chest and it's the hand that ends up breaking my ribs. And there, man, when I fall I say 'thank goodness I didn't screw up my wrist.' But immediately I couldn't breathe, I couldn't find air, I couldn't find a position. It was a constant pain that didn't go away until I got to the hospital.”
During his career,“Cachavacha” wore the shirts of major clubs such as Independiente, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, and Penarol. He was the top scorer in the Spanish league, a UEFA Golden Boot winner, and a key figure in the Uruguayan national team that finished fourth at South Africa 2010.