Manchester United loan move leaves jury out on Falcao’s true quality

Questions will linger over striker's true quality without proving ground of Champions League football, writes Ian Hawkey

Monaco's Colombian forward Radamel Falcao celebrates after scoring a goal during the French Ligue 1 match between against Nantes on August 24, 2014, at the La Beaujoire Stadium, in Nantes, western FraShow more

Radamel Falcao is about to enjoy a sustained run in the most elite competition of the sport in which he has made his name.

He has long been described as a world-class footballer but there have been doubts, mainly to do with his lack of appearances at Uefa Champions League level.

With his move to the Premier League, a true judgment of his excellence can be made.

It may go some way to dispelling the impression that he is allergic to Champions League football.

For all the financial investment the Colombian has attracted in his career, and all the goals at domestic and Europa League levels, his latest move means he again sidesteps, for at least another 12 months, the greatest of stages.

By joining Manchester United, initially on loan, instead of a potential gig with the champions of Italy – Juventus – or, at a stretch, a stint with the holders of the English Premier League title, Manchester City, Falcao has agreed to a second successive season without European football.

When he agreed to sign for Monaco, in May 2013, a few eyebrows were raised, not because of the size of the fee – €60 million (Dh289.5m) was steep, but his qualities are plenty – but because of what the destination might say about his ambition.

Monaco, freshly enriched by the patronage of a Russian billionaire, had only just been promoted to France’s Ligue 1. They play to relatively small audiences in a bijou city-state.

When Falcao then sustained a serious cruciate ligament injury playing a French Cup tie last January, it seemed he must be fated to bypass the biggest occasions.

His Colombia had qualified for their first World Cup finals this century, thanks in large part to his goals, and though he worked valiantly to regain fitness for June, the deadlines for his recovery were too tight.

He missed the Brazil tournament, where he would have added considerable punch to a dynamic team who ran the hosts close for a place in the semi-finals. That was a sad setback for him personally.

He returned to fitness restless to advance his club career, aware that Monaco’s chief backer Dmitry Rybolovlev was keen to try to bring the club’s budgets into line with Uefa’s Financial Fair Play regulations, a tough task given Monaco’s limited revenue streams.

It is no secret Falcao wanted to move upwards and a barely concealed fact that he was attracted by the idea of Real Madrid.

United will give him the big crowds that Monaco could not, but they will hardly sate any impatience to collect trophies or chase European honours.

He joins a club clearly in transition, unlikely to reclaim the Premier League title this season.

For United, the deal looks beneficial in the medium term, though there must be a significant gamble in that Falcao, who turns 29 in February, has recently suffered a damaging injury.

Fully fit, he will supply power in attack and deadly finishing. He has a fine scoring record in three distinct European leagues, or four if you count the Europa League. In that competition he is legendary, with 30 goals from 31 games.

He thrived in Spain’s Primera Liga, too, with Atletico Madrid, whom he left for Monaco.

Atletico’s recent progress owes much to Falcao. Pity for him, though, that he was not around for their coronation as Spanish champions last year, or for their Champions League final in May.

He contributed, at least until his injury, to accelerating Monaco’s status as French football’s second power behind Paris Saint-Germain.

It is easy to liken what United need from him to those two episodes of his career. Atletico and Monaco needed galvanising; United need rebooting.

They will pay Falcao a significant portion of his vast salary – reportedly close to €300,000 per week – and manager Louis van Gaal will have to fit Falcao in a front line that already includes Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. Rooney and Van Persie’s alliance, when first formed two summers ago, prompted former United manager Alex Ferguson to wonder out loud if United had the best collective striking resources in Europe.

Danny Welbeck, deemed surplus to requirements, and Javier Hernandez, now on loan at Real Madrid, were part of his argument.

Falcao is an upgrade on them, even if his credentials as truly world class must be suspended, as he commits to another year outside the most exacting competition of all.

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