There’s no denying that when on form, Radamel Falcao is one of the best strikers in the game. However, after a dismal showing at the Copa América, on the back of an arguably even poorer 2014/15 club season, it is clear that the Colombian marksman is far from his clinical best. His return of 4 goals from 29 appearances for Manchester United in all competitions – the last of which came against minnows Leicester City in January – was well below what United fans would have expected from a player of Falcao’s calibre. Falcao has since played the last 17 games for club and country without hitting the back of the net – an unfathomable dry spell when you consider his impressive tally of 142 goals from 2009 to 2013 representing FC Porto (2009-11), Atletico Madrid (2011-13) and Colombia.
While it is true that Falcao spent most of his season in Manchester riddled with injuries, due to which most of his appearances were off the bench, he was certainly not worth his £300,000-a-week wage bill. And yet, he has now landed himself the enviable number 9 shirt for defending Premier League champions Chelsea, in a move that seems to defy logic. But does it?
In José Mourinho, Chelsea have a phenomenal manager who has a proven track record of bringing out the best in gifted but misfiring players. Cesc Fàbregas is one such player who came to Chelsea after 3 unconvincing seasons at Barcelona. The ‘Special One’, true to his nickname, managed to reignite the fire within Fàbregas by structuring the Chelsea midfield around him. The Spanish international rose to the occasion, providing 22 assists in all competition for the Blues. If Falcao can take a leaf out of Fàbregas’ book, Chelsea will be a very difficult team to contain next season.
Moving to Chelsea will turn the clock back on Falcao’s career in more ways than one. At Stamford Bridge, he will take comfort in seeing his former Atlético Madrid teammates Diego Costa and Thibaut Courtois line up beside him. Although Costa played as understudy to Falcao at the Vicente Calderón, the tables have now turned. Nevertheless, the duo have a deep understanding of each other’s games. Falcao knows that he will not be an automatic starter, but when given the chance, if the pair link up the way they did at Atlético, with Costa bullying around opposition defenders and Falcao exploiting the space in behind, Chelsea fans are sure to be in for a treat. Falcao will also have his pacey compatriot, Juan Cuadrado, alongside him at Chelsea to make his transition even smoother. Although their chemistry was virtually non-existent at the Copa América, both players are talented enough to find a way through the defences that stand in their way.
Another reason Falcao failed to make an impact for the Red Devils was the mediocre midfield that never quite got going in offense. On the other hand, a midfield trio comprising Eden Hazard, Willian and Oscar, supported by the creativity of Fàbregas almost guarantees plenty of opportunities for the new number 9 to rack up his goal tally. Given Loïc Rémy’s handy role in last season’s championship run, Falcao will perhaps be behind him in the pecking order, but given Diego Costa’s injury record and the departure of Didier Drogba, he will certainly get enough chances to prove his worth. By accepting a 50% pay cut, Falcao is also easing himself off the pressure from the Stamford Bridge faithful, who will pin less hope on him than United fans did.
It seems that the stars have aligned for Radamel Falcao to rediscover his lost form. He certainly has the right manager and teammates to put his forgettable year at United behind him by establishing himself as a solid backup to Diego Costa. At 29 years of age, he only has a few years left at his physical peak, and it would warm the hearts of both Chelsea fans and neutrals alike to see Radamel Falcao back among the goals.
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