RADIO
The latest news in the world of soccer is that Radamel Falcao will be joining Premier League champions Chelsea on a season long loan ahead of the 2015-2016 season.
In case you don't know who Falcao is, he is one of the best forwards in world soccer. A pure and traditional number nine, the Colombian's league record from 2009 to 2014 was 104 goals scored in just 243 games - nearly a goal every alternate game which are certainly impressive numbers.
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In 2013, Falcao joined French side Monaco for a huge €60 million fee, making them the 29-year-old's third club in four years. Things were going well for Falcao despite adapting to a new team, league and teammates as he scored 11 goals in 19 games in all competitions until a cruciate injury in January 2014 ruled him out for the rest of the season.
This was a huge blow, especially ahead of the World Cup in Brazil. Falcao was adamant that he'd still be able to represent Colombia but in the end, he decided to follow his doctor's advice and stay at home.
And if you thought Colombia did extremely well at the World Cup (which they did as they were terribly unlucky to lose to Brazil in the quarterfinals), they did it without their talisman in Falcao. Falcao has been Colombia's Neymar or Ronaldo equivalent (for years) such that the whole nation worships him - it only speaks volumes about how much better they could have been with him in the side.
Regardless, Falcao was looking for a fresh start and despite one season in France, he asked for a move away. Because of his high fee and astronomical wages (Monaco's lack of tax income is what made this possible), no one could realistically afford him and even if a handful of clubs could, would it be worth it to sign a player who had been injured for months?
In the end, Manchester United signed Falcao on the last day of the transfer window on a season long loan for the duration of the 2014-2015 season. It was definitely risky even as a loan deal as Louis van Gaal's side were paying the Colombian over £300,000 a week along with a £6 million loan fee to Monaco.
Regardless of the expenses though, United fans were still excited. This was a genuinely world class player at their disposal to compliment the likes of Robin van Persie, Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and more in their bid to return to the top four of England.
Despite some glimpses and flashes of his old self, the move was ultimately one to forget. With Rooney being moved to midfield and Van Persie's injury struggles, Falcao failed to take advantage and make the most of his chances or consolidate his place in the starting eleven.
Such was his ineffectiveness that Rooney was eventually back to playing in his natural position up front. Falcao looked like a different player with no confidence and was missing chances that he would have normally buried like this one below:
It even reached the point where Falcao played an under 21 game for Manchester United where he was - once again - ineffective. Of course, the fact that United couldn't afford another season without a top four finish meant that Falcao couldn't get enough opportunities after he was dropped but his end of season tally was still shocking - a remarkable four goals scored in 29 games in all competitions.
Manchester United had the option to make the move permanent by paying £43.5 million and it's not so hard to see why they chose not to. Despite a season to forget, United fans took Falcao to their hearts and supported him as much as they could, with a majority sad to see him go.
However, things could change now. Falcao is widely rumoured to complete another loan move, this time to the champions Chelsea who happen to be rivals with Manchester United.
It's not that fans feel betrayed by Falcao - after all, he was never a permanent player at Old Trafford. It's the fear that he was catching up on his fitness and slowly getting back to his level at United, before truly showing his best for Chelsea.
You don't become a bad striker overnight and one below par season certainly doesn't make you a below par player. Many players take time to recover from injuries and Falcao could be another one of those players. Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho certainly sees that:
"If I can help Falcao reach his level again, I will do it. It hurts me that people in England think that the real Falcao is the one we saw at Manchester United." - Jose Mourinho.
Falcao won't be first choice at Stamford Bridge but under the man-management of Mourinho, could still get back to his best and show the world that last season was simply a blip.
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