Forlán happy with Atlético stay

(GSM) – Diego Forlán has revealed that he is happy to stay with Atlético Madrid after receiving no serious offers from Europe’s top clubs since the World Cup.

The 31-year-old striker, who was named the tournament’s best player, had five goals to his name as he helped Uruguay reach the semi-finals.

Despite hinting that he would Atlético if the right offer came in, the Ballon d’Or shortlisted candidate , Forlán insists he has no intentions of leaving after absence of solid approaches.

“I feel so good at Atlético Madrid,” he told France Football. “It is a club that offers me everything I need. I am happy here.

“Honestly, I didn’t receive any concrete offers last summer.”

Forlán feels he has reached the peak of his powers having had a frustrating introduction to European football when he left Independiente for United in January 2002.

But he moved to Villarreal in 2004 and won the European Golden Boot in his first season in Spain after scoring 25 goals in 38 league games.

Atlético swooped for Forlán in 2007 and he won the European Golden Boot for a second time in 2008/09, scoring 32 in 33 games, before helping them win last season’s Europa League.

“I am experiencing an amazing period in my career,” he said. “For example, I could not have felt this accomplished at 22.

“At that time, I played at Manchester United and I didn’t have a lot of opportunities to play. I became a little stagnated, but I am aware I learnt a lot of things there. Today, being 31, I have reached fulfilment.”

“When I arrived at Manchester United, I needed to play to adapt but I only came off the bench for five or 10 minutes so it was very difficult to adapt,” he said.

“But when I joined Villarreal, I immediately got opportunities to express myself and I adapted on the pitch, not on the bench – as I did in Manchester.

“However, I have no doubt my experience in England participated to my later success.

“I have learnt so many things from Sir Alex Ferguson – the way he prepared for matches, the way he presented it to the players, his way of working, his quality as a human being – and I absolutely don’t regret the two-and-a-half years I spent beside him.”