Former Uruguay captain Forlan announces retirement from football

Former Uruguay captain and English Premier League winner with Manchester United, Diego Forlan has announced his official retirement at the age of 40.

Forlan had been without a team since a brief spell last year with Kitchee Sports in Hong Kong.

"I've decided to stop playing professional football," said Forlan in quotes made to local television station Teledoce, and picked up in daily newspaper El Observador on Tuesday.

"Recently I had an offer to play, but I was looking for excuses. I was being more selective and it was difficult," he added.

In 2011, the striker helped Uruguay win the Copa America, a competition both his father and grandfather won.

He was also named the best player at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa where Uruguay finished fourth.

He began his senior career with Argentina's Independiente before a big-money move to Manchester United, where he won the English title in 2003 and the FA Cup a year later.

But Forlan never managed to hold down a regular starting berth at ..