born in montevideo, forlán, son of former player and uruguayan international pablo forlán, was a tennis player in his youth. he decided to follow the occupation of his father in playing football when his sister alejandra was involved in a horrific car accident, which killed her boyfriend and left her in intensive care for five months and handicapped thereafter. in 1995, when he was 16, forlán was brought to france by manager lászló bölöni, and spent several months on trial at as nancy. however, the club opted against signing him, and forlán returned to south america.