Calcutta: Former Uruguay captain Diego Forlan is all set to join Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) as their marquee player for the third edition of the Indian Super League.

"The deal is done, but some minor formalities need to be completed," a source said on Monday. He will be replacing Portugal's Helder Postiga, who was the marquee player of the city-based franchise last year.

It was a toss-up between former Germany captain Michael Ballack and Forlan, as the latter was preferred since he played for Atletico Madrid from 2007-2011. Not only that, he still has very healthy relation with some top Atletico Madrid officials, the source informed.

Former Spanish World Cupper Jose Molina will be ATK's head coach in ISL III. He also preferred Forlan over Ballack.

Forlan last played for Uruguayan club Penarol in 2015-2016 season. His father had also played for the club. Prior to that, Forlan also turned up for J-League club Cerezo Osaka in the 2014-2015 season.

ATK won the inaugural edition of the competition in 2014 and couldn't go beyond the last-four stage in the second edition.

The franchise earlier had come out with an initial list of 19 players for ISL III with Iain Hume, Sameehg Doutie, Ofentse Nato and Tiri being the foreigners that were retained. Stephen Pearson, Dani Mallo and Pablo Jose Gallardo Zurera were the other overseas players who joined the squad.

Among the domestic players, ATK have signed Lalrindika Ralte, Bikash Jairu, Robert Lalthlamuana, Shilton Paul, Jewel Raja, Pritam Kotal, Debjit Majumder, Bikramjit Singh, Bidyananda Singh Ningthoujam and Prabir Das.