CHELSEA HAVE AGREED a season-long loan deal with Monaco to sign Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, with the option to make the deal permanent.
The 29-year-old arrived at Old Trafford last summer as one of the most highly rated strikers in Europe but endured a difficult debut season in the Premier League, scoring just four goals in 29 games. United had the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season but chose not to activate the £43.2m clause in his contract.
José Mourinho spoke earlier in the summer about his admiration for Falcao and his wish to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
“It hurts me that people in England think that the real Falcao is the one we saw at Manchester United.”
Falcao has struggled to regain his best form and fitness after he suffered anterior ligament damage in January 2014, an injury that ruled him out of last summer’s World Cup. But he’s now been given a second chance at Chelsea and it could prove to be one of the shrewdest signings of the summer if he can rediscover his shooting boots.
Before his injury, he scored 72 goals in two seasons with Porto and followed that up with 70 goals in two seasons with Atletico Madrid.
He will now link up with former Atletico team-mates Thibaut Courtois, Felipe Luis and Diego Costa. Costa and Falcao formed a deadly partnership in 2013 and led Atletico to Copa del Rey success over rivals Real Madrid.
Croatian midfielder Mario Pasalic, 20, has gone the other way on loan for the season.