Once hailed as one of world football’s most feared strikers, Radamel Falcao, 30, is on his way out of Stamford Bridge with Middlesbrough offering him a final chance of salvation in English football.
The Colombian’s reputation is in tatters after injury-devastated spells with Manchester United and Chelsea saw him relegated to a bit-part player at the two Premier League giants. Falcao saw the move to west London as the opportunity to resurrect his career after 4 goals in 29 appearances at Old Trafford but things got worse with 1 goals in 12 at Chelsea.
Reduced to a substitute as Jose Mourinho and then Guus Hiddink lost patience with the injury-prone striker, Falcao’s only option in the English game is another loan spell, this time at Middlesbrough. Promoted to the Premier League last season, the Teesiders are prepared to offer the Colombian international a ‘pay-as-you-play’ contract with the option for a permanent move at the end of next season.
Despite their wealth, Monaco would prefer that the player see out the remaining two years of his contract on loan, but such have been his woes in English football that few suitors can be found. Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has a reputation for believing in players deemed to be past their best and is ready to sanction the deal.
However, Monaco will have to share the burden of his wages. Falcao earned an eye-watering £285,000 per week at United and although that was halved at Chelsea, it’s still more than Middlesbrough would be prepared to sanction.
With few alternatives left at Europe’s major clubs, Falcao faces becoming a wandering minstrel in world football. There was significant interest from Chinese clubs last summer and his representatives may work to rekindle that as an alternative to the rigors of the Premier League.
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