March 11 – Football is full of cases of misfit superstars failing to adapt to new surroundings. But few in recent years feature such a stark fall from grace as that of Manchester United’s on-loan Colombian striker Radamel Falcao.
Regarded as one of the most feared marksmen in the world when he joined United from Monaco, Falcao, a two-time Ballon d’Or nominee, had the humiliation of being selected as an average player in United’s under-21 reserve team against Tottenham on Tuesday – only to find himself substituted even at that level.
Available at £43.2 million this coming summer, unless something radical changes Falcao, still seemingly recovering from a cruciate ligament injury that ruled him out of last year’s World Cup, looks likely to be on his way out of Old Trafford after being marginalised for much of his season-long loan by manager Louis van Gaal.
Despite playing among a group of kids, some of whom had not got anywhere near United’s first team, Falcao’s battle for form continued as the 29-year-old, who reportedly earns £280,000 a week, was brought off after 72 minutes.
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