Diego Forlán Names Uruguay Preliminary Squad Led by Fede Valverde

Interim Uruguay coach Diego Forlán announced a preliminary squad of 42 players ahead of the November FIFA international window, featuring the return of Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde alongside veterans Ronald Araujo and José María Giménez, as.com reported.

Valverde Returns to Squad Following Injury Absence

Valverde missed Forlán’s initial matches in charge due to injury as Uruguay split three games, losing to Japan before defeating South Korea and India. yahoo.com noted that the expanded preliminary list also incorporates defenders Federico Pereira of Toluca and Bruno Damiani of Philadelphia Union.

Several other European-based players maintain their places in the selection. Villarreal defender Santiago Mouriño, Cagliari defender Juan Rodríguez, Real Betis midfielder Facundo Bernal, Getafe forward Martín Satriano, and Bournemouth attacker Álvaro Rodríguez all feature in the preliminary group.

Club Scheduling Conflicts Impact Boca Juniors

The preliminary call-up creates immediate fixture complications for Argentine club Boca Juniors. El Destape reported that striker Miguel Merentiel’s inclusion in the reserve list threatens his availability for the Copa Argentina semifinal against Banfield scheduled for November 14 in Córdoba.

Uruguay travels to face Argentina on November 13 in Buenos Aires during the international window running from November 9 through November 17. If Forlán retains Merentiel in the final roster, manager Rodolfo Arruabarrena will lose his forward for the domestic cup clash.

Match Schedule and Upcoming Fixtures

The Uruguayan Football Association confirmed the November 13 clash against Argentina while working to finalize a second friendly fixture, with the Dominican Republic emerging as a primary candidate, according to as.com. Fernando Muslera remains absent from the setup after stepping away from international competition following the World Cup and declining Forlán’s invitation to return.