Diego Forlan Starts As Uruguay Interim Coach Without Valverde

Diego Forlan’s first training session as Uruguay’s interim head coach began with a notable absence. No Federico Valverde. No Real Madrid heartbeat in midfield. No safety net.

The new man on the touchline has his first assignment: a three-game tour of Asia. Japan, South Korea, India. A soft landing on paper, but Forlan’s opening act comes without his most influential midfielder after Valverde suffered a serious ankle injury in the derby against Atletico Madrid.

Valverde left at home

Uruguay’s medical team pushed the decision to the limit. They tracked Valverde’s ankle right up to the squad deadline, hoping the swelling would ease. It didn’t. Long-haul flights threatened to aggravate the problem, and Forlan shut the door on any temptation to gamble.

The 47-year-old made the call: Valverde stays in Spain, focused on rehabilitation, not risk.

“The doctor spoke with Fede and obviously he's feeling some discomfort,” Forlan said. He underlined the logic behind the decision, pointing directly at the dangers of swelling during travel and insisting long-term health had to beat short-term need.

Martinez steps in, new faces arrive

With a hole in the centre of the pitch, Forlan moved quickly. Palmeiras midfielder Emiliano Martinez has been drafted in as a direct replacement, flying out to link up with the group on tour.

That change is part of a broader refresh.

Forlan’s first squad carries a clear message: the slate is being scrubbed after a disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign. Uncapped trio Thiago Cardozo, Juan Rodriguez, and Facundo Bernal have all been handed their first senior call-ups, a nod to the next generation and a sign that places are there to be won.

The rebuild is not all about youth, though. Familiar leaders are back in the fold. Nahitan Nandez returns. Lucas Torreira is involved again. Ronald Araujo, the Barcelona defender and one of the pillars of the back line, is also back to anchor the defence.

Forlan’s first test

Forlan has been clear about his early priorities: assess the collective, tighten the structure, restore discipline. This tour is not just about results; it’s an audition — for players and for the coach himself.

Uruguay open against Japan on Thursday, September 24 at the Q&A Stadium Miyagi in Rifu, a fixture that will give an early indication of how quickly Forlan’s ideas are landing. Four days later comes South Korea in Seoul, another stern examination of organisation and mentality. The trip closes in Kolkata on October 6 against India, a different kind of test in a different kind of atmosphere.

String a few wins together, and the conversation changes. Positive performances and results on this tour could turn Forlan from stopgap to serious candidate as La Celeste look toward the 2028 Copa America and the 2030 World Cup.

For now, the project starts in Japan, without Valverde, but with a new voice on the bench and a squad asked to prove it can turn a page.