FALCAO

FALCAO

    I remember thinking back to Transfer Deadline Day this past September 2014, and as I was refreshing my Twitter feed every 5 or so seconds, seeing the rumors that Danny Welbeck was possibly being sold to Arsenal.  Not long thereafter, the bombshell leaked that Manchester United were in last minute negotiations with Jorge Mendes and AS Monaco about securing the services of world class striker Radamel Falcao!  Twitter went absolutely ballistic that evening when news of the potential signing broke.  After all, it was just days early that United had secured the services of Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid, the same Di Maria who had just been named Man of the Match in the 2014 Champions League Final as Madrid finally won their famed La Decima, as well playing a key role in leading Argentina to the 2014 World Cup Final in Brazil.  Couple Di Maria & Falcao with signings that had already been made i.e. Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Ander Herrera & Luke Shaw.  Could it be possible that Ed Woodward, the same Woodward who just one summer prior was only able to pry Marouane Fellaini away from Everton in a last ditch effort at the stroke of midnight on Deadline Day?  And pry him away for the sum total that United had originally offered for both Leighton Baines and Fellaini.  This was right after the retirement of both Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill, the pair who had basically called the shots at United for the previous decade, which had so many people wondering if Woodward was even qualified for his position, and capable of making the tough decisions that needed to be made on a daily basis.  David Moyes and Woodward were able to sign Juan Mata away from Chelsea during the January transfer window, but many felt they overspent at the time.  United fans came to realize this season that it was money well spent, as Mata turned out to be a big factor in United finishing in the Top 4 and returning to UEFA Champions League football next season. 

  This made the news/rumors that were unfolding that much more unbelievable to so many!  Ed Woodward literally went from scapegoat to savior overnight, and it's to the point now that many feel he can do no wrong!  Many fans, myself included could not believe what was unfolding.  A world class striker, considered by many to be one of the Top 5 in the world at his position, albeit coming off a devastating knee injury just that prior March, was going to be joining Louis Van Gaal’s revamped United squad.  It turned out to be true, and in the last few minutes before the deadline passed, Falcao arrived at Carrington in the middle of the night, took his medical and signed his one-year loan deal with Manchester United.  Included in the deal was an option to make the loan permanent after one season for around $64 million.  I will be the first to admit, after the season Robin van Persie had under David Moyes, I was absolutely thrilled to have such a talent added to an already deadly strike force up front.  On paper, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao would be any managers dream trio of Strikers!

Unfortunately, visions of grandiose champagne football do not always go quite as planned.  Falcao struggled with nagging injuries in the beginning of the season though his beautiful assist on a van Persie goal and his match winner @ Old Trafford vs. Everton, which also happened to open his United scoring account, appeared that he may be on the right track.  To see the love and pure joy/enthusiasm he showed to the United fans after scoring that goal showed his appreciation he had for all the love they had shown him!  However the world class goal scorer that so many of us have come to know from his days at Porto, Atletico Madrid and AS Monaco just couldn’t seem to find that same form in Manchester.  And let’s make one thing clear, it was not for a lack of effort.  According to teammates and LVG himself, nobody trained harder, and nobody was more beloved by his teammates and the fans at Old Trafford.  Every time he got off the bench to warm up down the touchline, they would chant the now infamous Falcao chant nonstop.  That’s what makes the happenings of the past few days that much more unfortunate. According to the club, Falcao was informed on Saturday that United would not be picking up the option on his loan deal, and he would be returning to his parent club, AS Monaco.  He was pictured with his wife and 2 children in the luxury lounge at Manchester Airport on Monday headed for his next destination. 

The 29-year-old striker finished his brief Manchester United career with 26 appearances, 4 goals & 4 assists.  While many critics and naysayers have had their heyday with what went wrong with Falcao in Manchester, one thing will always remain.  El Tigre gave everything he had to Manchester United Football Club during his brief tenure, and you won’t hear one teammate, club member, or fan say anything to the contrary.  It’s a shame that Radamel Falcao will not be filling the #9 shirt for Manchester United next season, and as of this morning, rumors of some of my worst fears are already starting to begin.  I’ve said it for months and I will continue to until the day he chooses his next club.  Manchester United will regret the day they let Radamel Falcao walk out the doors at Carrington if he goes on to sign with one of our Premier League rivals.  Rumors today already suggest Chelsea is one of his preferred destinations and I wouldn’t put it past Jose Mourinho to make a serious play for him. Partner El Tigre with Diego Costa up front and watch the two former Atleti strikers wreak havoc on the Premier League for the next 2-3 seasons! You won’t find a bigger Radamel Falcao fan than myself, but I pray that he returns to La Liga or Ligue 1, because If he somehow returns to the Barclays Premier League, mark my words: Louis Van Gaal, Ed Woodward and Manchester United will rue the day that they let him slip away!  Perhaps it was a comfort level, perhaps it was still recovering from his knee injury, or perhaps he just never quite found his rhythm in LVG’s system.  The one thing that could have helped fix any of those above stated problems were one more year.

Louis Van Gaal’s quote re: Radamel Falcao’s return to AS Monaco after his season long loan @ Manchester United:

“Falcao is a top professional and a good human being.  On behalf of myself and everyone at the club I would like to wish him well for the future”  

 The fact that it’s being reported that Falcao is willing to take a sizeable pay cut to join Chelsea goes to show that Radamel Falcao feels he has a point to prove, and he is nowhere close to being finished yet! Let’s all just hope, for the sake of the fans and our beloved club, that point isn’t proved at the behest of Manchester United next season! One last thing I will say though to Radamel Falcao is Thank You! Thank you for your determination, hard work and dedication to our club, even though this past season didn't work out the way yourself or us fans wished it would have.  You are an inspiration to many and I want to wish you nothing but the best in your future football career, except of course if you happen to play Manchester United! Gracias El Tigre!!!   

 

Falcao celebrating his game winner vs. Everton @ Old Trafford