When Diego Forlan arrived at Manchester United in January 2002, he joined one of the planet’s most star-packed teams.
The Uruguayan forward was just 22 years old when he made his move to Europe, joining the Red Devils in a £6.9million move from Argentine side Independiente after Sir Alex Ferguson’s side pipped Middlesbrough to a deal.
Among his new team-mates were the likes of David Beckham, plus the rest of the Class of 92, with a certain Cristiano Ronaldo arriving at the club in the summer of 2003.
Forlan on sharing a dressing room with Beckham and Ronaldo
And sharing a dressing room alongside Beckham, already a global icon by this stage of his career, quickly made an impression on him.
“Beckham was a global phenomenon,” Forlan tells FourFourTwo. “Not only because of how good he was, but because he was dating a Spice Girl.
“It was like travelling with a Hollywood star. Despite all the noise around him, he was a great professional.”
Ronaldo was a fresh-faced 18-year-old when Manchester United stumped up £12million for the winger, shortly after he had dazzled for Sporting in a friendly against the Red Devils.
The Portuguese was very much at the start of his journey to becoming one of the game’s greats, but Forlan insists that the early potential was clear to see.
“Ronaldo was just starting to break through back then,” Forlan adds when he looks back at the five-time future Ballon d’Or winner’s start to life at Old Trafford.
“He was hungry to conquer the world and stood out for his physical and technical qualities,” he adds before moving on to the mentality that left such a big impression on everyone at the club.
“Above all, it was his ambition to be the best, always wanting more.”
And while Ronaldo’s teammates believed in his ability, the player himself had no doubts on how far he would go in the game.
“He was already really good, but I think only he knew that he was going to become a legendary footballer.”
