Falcao's Father Reveals Why Son Chose Manchester United Over Premier League Rivals
Radamel Falcao's father has disclosed that the Colombian striker turned down approaches from Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City specifically to sign for Manchester United, describing the Old Trafford club as "the most important team in England."
The revelation comes more than a decade after Falcao's high-profile move to United in 2014, which ultimately proved disappointing despite the significant anticipation surrounding his arrival.
The Deadline Day Decision
According to Radamel Garcia, Falcao's father and a former Colombian international footballer, his son had multiple options when considering his Premier League destination. "Juventus, Manchester City, Liverpool also approached him and Arsenal at the last minute," Garcia stated during an interview on Colombian radio.
He elaborated on the family's reasoning, explaining: "Manchester United is the most important team in England and one of the most powerful financially. Fortunately, he ended up at Manchester United, a great team that he has to lead forward."
The decision was made on transfer deadline day in 2014, with United triggering a loan move that included an option to make the transfer permanent for a reported £43.5 million.
Real Madrid Interest That Never Materialised
Garcia also addressed speculation about potential interest from Real Madrid, which emerged when Falcao posted "Hala Madrid" on social media just days before his United move was confirmed.
"Things did not happen with Real Madrid because if you have money and you go to the shops to buy a shirt or trousers, you have to decide if you buy it or not," Garcia explained metaphorically. "So Real Madrid opted not to do it, and you can't do anything about that."
He suggested the Spanish giants wanted certain conditions that weren't met, stating: "I have a feeling they wanted the player to offer himself as a gift with a number of conditions and things like that."
A Career That Never Ignited in England
Despite his formidable reputation built during successful spells at Porto and Atlético Madrid - where he scored 70 goals in 91 games and led the team to consecutive Europa League titles - Falcao's time in England proved underwhelming.
During his single season at Manchester United under manager Louis van Gaal, the striker managed just four goals in 29 appearances across all competitions. His struggles continued during a subsequent loan spell at Chelsea, where he scored only once in 12 games before a serious thigh injury ended his season prematurely.
Falcao's Premier League career contrasted sharply with his earlier successes in Spain, where his 34-goal final season at Atlético Madrid prompted Monaco to pay a reported £50 million for his services before his devastating knee injury in France.
Post-Premier League Journey
After his English adventures, Falcao's career continued across Europe and eventually returned to his homeland:
- Permanent transfer to Galatasaray in 2019
- Two-year spell in Turkey before moving to Rayo Vallecano in Spain
- Three seasons back in La Liga
- Return to Colombia to play for Millonarios, where he continues his professional career
The striker's father maintains that despite the disappointing statistics, choosing Manchester United was the right decision at the time, given the club's stature and financial power in world football.
