Forlan completes United switch
The Uruguayan striker has arrived from Argentinian outfit Independiente and has put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half year contract at Old Trafford.
Forlan was snapped up by Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson from under the nose of his former assistant Steve McLaren at Middlesbrough, and the 22-year-old is eager to prove his worth.
He said: "I like to score goals first of all, then I try to be useful for the team. If I don't score, I try to help the team to score.
"I'm very happy to be here and when I was a child, I dreamed of being here.
"It was nice to be wanted by two teams, but I'm more happy to have signed for Manchester United."
Forlan has not signed in time to be eligible to face his other suitors Middlesbrough in the FA Cup this weekend, although he could figure against Bolton Wanderers in the league next Tuesday.
Ferguson, though, believes his new recruit will probably be ready for his United bow in a fortnight, and revealed the marksman was not his initial target when he dispatched his brother Martin on a scouting mission to South America.
"My brother watched him three times in Argentina and thought he had good potential, although he was not the original target," said Ferguson.
The striker possesses similar qualities to Andy Cole, who has recently departed The Theatre of Dreams, and his switch to The Premiership could enhance his prospects of inclusion in Uruguay's 2002 World Cup squad.
His new boss is not unduly concerned by the potential of Forlan regularly being away on international duty, and is certain the hitman's pedigree in Argentina will serve him well.
"The one immediate problem you have is internationals and that is not lost on us. All Italian clubs and Spanish clubs have always complained about that, but they say there's going to be an international calendar and that would help enormously.
"Anyone who comes out of Argentinian football has had a great upbringing football-wise. It is competitive, quality football and they come from the right breeding ground."
