Diego Godin leaves Atletico Mineiro

RIO DE JANEIRO, June 20– Veteran Uruguayan defender Diego Godin has parted ways with Atletico Mineiro after less than six months with the Brazilian club. The center-back did not reveal his next move but earlier this month he said he could leave Atletico to join Argentina’s Velez Sarsfield in a bid to secure his place in Uruguay’s national team ahead of this…

RIO DE JANEIRO, June 20 (Xinhua) — Veteran Uruguayan defender Diego Godin has parted ways with Atletico Mineiro after less than six months with the Brazilian club.

The 36-year-old made just eight appearances for Atletico following his arrival from Italian Serie A outfit Cagliari in January.

“I am leaving with the satisfaction of having always given my best at all times, with a lot of professionalism, and having respected all those people that I will never forget,” said the 36-year-old defender said on social media.

Godin, who has been capped 159 times for Uruguay, is contracted to Atletico Mineiro until December.

The center-back did not reveal his next move but earlier this month he said he could leave Atletico to join Argentina’s Velez Sarsfield in a bid to secure his place in Uruguay’s national team ahead of this year’s World Cup. Velez are managed by Alexander Medina, who is a close friend of Godin.

Uruguay have been drawn alongside South Korea, Portugal and Ghana in Group H of the World Cup, which will be played in Qatar from November 21 to December 18. Enditem