HighLights
  1. Uruguay will lock horns against India in an historic friendly clash.
  2. Forlan's memories of Kolkata remain particularly vivid.
  3. Forlan's has a clear message for Indian football community. 

India’s football community has plenty of young talent but needs stronger grassroots development and more high-profile international exposure to make significant progress, former Uruguay star Diego Forlan said on Monday.

Uruguay will lock horns against India in an historic friendly clash in Kolkata later tonight.

Forlan, who played in the Indian Super League (ISL) for Mumbai City during his stint in India, believes matches against top sides such as Uruguay and Brazil can provide valuable experience to Indian players and help accelerate their development.

ALSO READ: ‘Well-Organised Defence…’: Carlo Ancelotti Reveals What Impressed Him About India After Brazil Win

Cricket vs Football 

“Your main sport is cricket, so it’s different. Football has been here for many years, of course, but it’s not the main sport. But you have a lot of young talented players,” Forlan said, speaking on the eve of the India vs Uruguay match.

“I think this kind of game, playing against Brazil, Uruguay, and also having a strong league, would improve the development of young players. In the near future, India could be playing important and crucial games,” he added.

The former Uruguay forward stressed that India's long-term progress needs to begin at the grassroots level, with greater investment in academies and opportunities for children to play regularly.

“You need to build from the roots, academies, young players, kids to start playing a lot. If you build more academies, the league gets stronger and stronger, you will achieve getting more players and getting better players, that’s for sure,” Forlan commented.

Forlan Backs More International Exposure For India

Forlan also welcomed India’s decision to play high-profile international friendlies, saying such matches can help the national team learn and improve.

“I think it's good that the national team is playing these kinds of friendly games. In the future, they can have more games like this, so they can learn and become a better team,” he said.

The Uruguay legend feels regular exposure to teams from the highest level can help Indian players understand the demands of international football and prepare them for bigger challenges.

While India face a tough opponent in Uruguay, Forlan believes these are precisely the kind of opportunities that can contribute to the country's football development in the long run.

Forlan Remembers His ISL Stint

The 46-year-old also looked back fondly on his time in India, having spent six months playing for Mumbai City in the ISL.

“It’s been almost 10 years since I came here,” Forlán said. “I had the opportunity to play in the ISL for Mumbai City. I spent six months here, playing in Kolkata, Mumbai and different cities. I discovered a really nice country, with a lot of people and a lot of good football players.”

Forlan's memories of Kolkata remain particularly vivid. During his ISL stint, he experienced the city's strong football culture and passionate support from the stands.

“Every time the team was playing here, the stadium was full,” he recalled, placing Kolkata alongside Kerala, Goa and the northeast among the regions where he felt football had a particularly strong following.

ALSO READ: ‘Good Experience, But ...’: Khalid Jamil Analyses Brazil Clash Ahead of India’s Uruguay Friendly

“They are really passionate about football. They have good players as well,” Forlan said.

His comments come at a time when Indian football is looking to build a stronger pathway from grassroots development to the senior national team.

Forlan's has a clear message for Indian football community. India has young players with potential, but developing that talent will require stronger academies, a competitive domestic league and more opportunities to test themselves against top international opposition.


Also In News