Radamel Falcao (Getty)
Radamel Falcao has endured an 18 months to forget. Last season, a torn anterior cruciate ligament ruled him out for six months, including the 2014 World Cup. This season, following a deadline day loan move to Manchester United, the Colombian has scored just four goals in a campaign that has seen him spend more time on the bench than the pitch.
If Falcao is still at Old Trafford next season, it’ll be the biggest shock since, well, since he signed for United back in September. Here’s the low-down on his past, present and future.
1. Man United Must Pay $64M if They Want to Keep Falcao, but They Don’t Want to
Falcao sits next to Marouane Fellaini in his customary position on the Manchester United bench. (Getty)
Manchester United’s dramatic deadline day swoop for Falcao saw the Red Devils agree to pay AS Monaco $10 million for a season-long loan, with an option to sign the Colombian permanently at the end of his loan spell for an additional $64 million. Given that United manager Louis van Gaal has afforded Falcao just 12 starts all season, amid claims the Colombian wasn’t fit enough to play “more than 20 minutes”, it seems highly unlikely either side will be keen to take that option. Falcao’s former agent, Silvano Espindola, says he and the former Porto striker have “cried together” many times this season, and that Falcao will not stay at United if they don’t qualify for the Champions League next season.
Averaging a goal every 4.75 games this season (compared to a goal every 1.29 over the last five years), it seems unlikely Falcao will have much say in the matter.
2. He’s Married to Laurelei Taron, & She Disagrees With Louis van Gaal
Laurelei Taron stands in front of her husband, pregnant with their first child. (Getty)
Falcao is married to Laurelei Taron, with whom he has two daughters: Dominique, born August 2013, and Desiree, born February 2015. The couple met at a church in Argentina when Laurelei was just 16-years-old, and married three years later.
It’s fair to say Taron doesn’t see eye-to-eye with United manager Louis van Gaal: following the Dutchman’s aforementioned statement that Falcao was only fit to play 20 minutes, the feisty Argentine posted a photo of Falcao training on Instagram, accompanied with the caption “100% prepared to give it all”.
Taron has followed her man across half the globe, moving from Argentina to Portugal to Spain to France and finally the UK. It’s likely she’ll be on the move again in the not-too-distant future.
3. AS Monaco Can’t Afford to Pay His $395,000 per Week Salary
AS Monaco majority owner Dmitry Rybolovlev. (Getty)
When AS Monaco paid a handsome $70 million for Falcao in the summer of 2013, they were high on the seemingly infinite riches of one of Europe’s wealthiest men: Dmitry Rybolovlev. Thing is, since those heady days the Russian oligarch has had something of a change of heart. A $4.8 billion divorce settlement – a world record – put rather a dent in his personal wealth, while having to hand over $58 million to Ligue 1 in lieu of the taxes Monegasques don’t have to pay rather soured his view of French football. It’s led to a step-change in Monaco’s personnel policy, with a switch in focus to promising youngsters rather than established galacticos.
Which is why Falcao was shopped around Europe last summer, and why Moncao are desperate for someone – anyone – to take him off their hands. They no longer have the inclination or wherewithal to pay his enormous $395,000 a week salary, which makes him the best-paid player in the Premier League. Thing is, after a lacklustre season at Old Trafford, who will want to?
4. His Agent, Jorge Mendes, Is the Best in the Business
Jorge Mendes, Radamel Falcao’s agent, sits alongside his client. (Getty)
The one thing Falcao and Monaco do have going for them is the striker’s agent: Jorge Mendes. The former nightclub proprietor makes Gordon Gekko look like a two-bit chump, with a player roster that includes not only Falcao but Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez, David de Gea and Diego Costa. If anyone can orchestrate a big-money move for the misfiring Colombian, it’s Mendes. After all, last summer alone he single-handedly arranged $275 million worth of transfers.
Mendes will be reminding the likes of Liverpool and Juventus – both credited with an interest in hiring the Colombian hit-man – what Falcao was capable of prior to his ill-fated move to Old Trafford.
5. He’s Won Plenty, but Hasn’t Played in the Champions League Since 2010
Falcao celebrates winning the 2012 Europa League with Atletico Madrid, alongside Atleti manager Diego Simeone. (Getty)
Despite having played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs – Porto, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United – Falcao hasn’t appeared in the UEFA Champions League for over five years. That lack of exposure to – let alone success in – Europe’s elite club competition is a blot on an otherwise stellar list of club and individual achievements: two Europa League titles, one Argentine league title, one Portuguese league title, two Taca de Portugals, a Copa del Rey, Europa League top scorer two years running and Europa League final Man of the Match two years running.
He also came second in the 2011-12 Puskas Awards for this frankly insane volley for Atletico Madrid against America de Cali:
Expect Jorge Mendes to be reminding clubs of those various achievements on a regular basis.
