With the news that Manchester
United have signed Radamel Falcao on a £20-million loan from Monaco, here are 21 things you should know about the Colombian striker whose idol is Theirry Henry.
1. Radamel Falcao has taken his name from a Brazilian legend.
Radamel Falcao García Zárate was born in Santa Marta (twinned with Miami Beach), to Radamel and Camenza, on February 10, 1986, months before Brazil's Paulo Roberto Falcão played in his second World Cup. In his first, in 1982, the AS Roma central midfielder, once the highest-paid player in world, was one of the stars of the tournament.
In the semi-final against Italy he equalised with a rasping drive to make it 2-2 before Pablo Rossi hit his third goal in the classic match. The result "broke my heart", the Brazilian said. But he went on to make 28 appearances for his country, retiring after the 1986 World Cup.
Radamel García, the striker's football-mad father, named his son as a tribute to Falcão. As a teenager the youngster adopted his middle name and it stuck.
2. His old man could play a bit, too.
Radamel García was a tough and uncompromising Colombian defender in the 1970s and 1980s, and had an excellent mullet hairdo.
3. Falcao almost moved to Ajax aged 11.
In the first of a number of missed transfer opportunities which have punctuated his career, the forward had a trial with the Amsterdam club, but was snubbed.
4. He had a professional contract by the age of 13.
Falcao's professional career actually began a couple of years after his Ajax miss, with Lanceros Boyacá in the Colombian Categoría Primera B (second tier). And he made his debut on August 28, 1999, at the age of 13 years and 199 days, thus becoming the youngest debutant at that level of Colombian professional football.
5. He earned his nickname 'El Tigre' at River Plate, who he signed for aged 15.
The Buenos Aires giants discoved Falcao when he was playing for the Colombian under-17 side. After training with Colombian club Millonarios, who did not take up their option to purchase the forward, Falcao was sold in February 2001 for £300,000 (and made his first-team debut in 2004). Unsurprisingly his attacking potency and tenacity led to the moniker, The Tiger. Falcao loves the name, and purs when called it.
6. If he had not been a footballer he would have been a writer.
In fact, before he was recruited to join the River's youth academy, Falcao had begun journalism studies in at the University of Palermo in Buenos Aires.
7. Aston Villa were interested in Falcao in 2008
Back when John Carew and Marlon Harewood were up top for the West Midlands club they spotted the young Colombian and make a bid, which was rejected. Also in early 2008 AC Milan and Brazilian club Fluminense also made offers, which were turned down.
8. He has twice had to undergo surgery on his right knee.
The first occasion was in a match for River Plate against San Lorenzo in November 2005. He missed the remainder of the Apertura with the ligament damage and then during pre-season training in January 2006, he sustained more damage to the knee, and required surgery which kept him out of action for another six months.
8. In all he scored 34 goals in 73 appearances for River Plate.
And it was also the last time he had short hair, before moving to Porto in July 2009 for a fee of €3.93 million (£3.11 million).
9. Falcao would have signed for Porto's rivals Benfica ...
But the club were reluctant to pay an additional €700,000 requested by the striker. Days later he moved to Porto, where he would net an incredible 62 goals in 69 games until his next move in the summer of 2011.
10. Falcao is better than Jürgen Klinsmann.
At least in terms of goals scored in a single Uefa Cup / Europa League Cup campaign. The German's record, achieved for Bayern Munich in the 1995-96 season, was 15 and Falcao managed 17 in 2010-11 as Porto won the Europa League, defeating SC Braga.
11. He scored in that Europa League final.
It was the only goal of the game. "Scoring a goal in a final like that is something that marks you," he said at the time, not very modestly.
12. Porto added a €45 million buy-out clause a month before he signed for Atletico Madrid
In July 2011, Falcao extended his contract with the additional contract clause, and while Porto paid a £5 million commission to increase the Colombian's stay they soon made their money back, and more.
13. Falcao replaced Sergio Agüero at Atletico Madrid.
After Manchester City had swooped for their star player Atletico bought Falcao for £35 million, making him the most expensive player in the club's history. He went on to score 68 goals in 83 games, and led then-Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola to name him "the best forward in the world in the penalty box".
14. He nearly signed for Chelsea before Atletico.
When Andre Villas-Boas moved from Porto to Stamford Bridge he put pressure on the Blues board to take the forward, but they were not interested. They could have signed him for £25 million, apparently. And to think they blew £50 million on Fernando Torres ... Another near miss.
15. Falcao really likes the Europa League.
A year after success with Porto, in the 2011-12 with Atletico he claimed glory again, and bagged a brace in the final against Athletic Bilbao.
Check the remaining 6 facts about The New Manchester United Striker - Here
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