---
title: "Flashback: Tammy Abraham puts Chelsea’s Falcao loan deal to shame"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/flashback-tammy-abraham-puts-chelseas-falcao-loan-deal-to-shame/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Chelsea Football Club"
published: "2019-09-18T19:10:22Z"
modified: "2019-09-18T19:10:22Z"
---

# Flashback: Tammy Abraham puts Chelsea’s Falcao loan deal to shame

**In our latest instalment of the *Flashback* series, we take a look back at a certain moment and look at how things might have changed those initial reactions.**

Blink and you’ll miss him.

Tammy Abraham’s [hat-trick](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49617985) against Wolves has threatened to break Chelsea’s so-called ‘curse’ of their number nine shirt, with the likes of [Gonzalo Higuain](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/chelsea-transfer-gonzalo-higuain-nine-10840699) and [Alvaro Morata](https://www.dreamteamfc.com/c/news-gossip/181307/chelsea-no-9-shirt-curse/) not lasting too long at Stamford Bridge with that particular squad number.

But delve a little deeper into its history, and you will find the European champion who failed to deliver amid a torrid campaign in west London.

With just [12 games](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/falcao/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/39152/plus/0?saison=&verein=631&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) to his name in Chelsea blue, Radamel Falcao did little to suggest his unsuccessful spell at [Manchester United](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/falcao/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/39152/plus/0?saison=&verein=985&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) was a freak occurrence.

Signed up by [Jose Mourinho](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33384795) in summer 2015, Falcao embarked on his second loan move in as many [seasons](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/falcao/transfers/spieler/39152) following a [serious injury](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/colombia/10591903/Radamel-Falcao-ruled-out-of-2014-World-Cup-after-suffering-knee-injury-while-playing-for-Monaco.html) that had disrupted his first campaign with Monaco. At the time, pundits such as [Frank Sinclair talked up the mov](https://talksport.com/football/293406/exclusive-mourinho-can-get-radamel-falcao-back-his-best-insists-chelsea-legend-150705154724/)e and a number of supporters online expressed their delight.

> [@ChelseaFC](https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@FALCAO](https://twitter.com/FALCAO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Grande Falcao! Good player!
>
> — Diego (@DVegaOsorio) [July 3, 2015](https://twitter.com/DVegaOsorio/status/616986596559163393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> [@ChelseaFC](https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) well…? Awesome
>
> — Karim Amro (@amro\_karim) [July 3, 2015](https://twitter.com/amro_karim/status/616985769194819584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> [@ChelseaFC](https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [@FALCAO](https://twitter.com/FALCAO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) best signing ever
>
> — D.A. (@zucraldi) [July 3, 2015](https://twitter.com/zucraldi/status/616968707168796672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/juanbernalm/status/616951920415084544

[Four goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/falcao/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/39152/plus/0?saison=&verein=985&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) in 29 United appearances were seemingly enough for Mourinho to take a chance on the Colombian, presumably having witnessed arguably his best performances whilst in Spain with Atletico Madrid (during which he scored over [30 times](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/falcao/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/39152/plus/0?saison=&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) in back-to-back seasons).

But in a [tumultuous season](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34670192) for Chelsea, Falcao’s lack of success is a far cry from the current fortunes being enjoyed by Abraham, who [cannot stop scoring](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tammy-abraham/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/331726/plus/0?saison=2019&verein=631&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) at the moment.

Even Falcao’s brief stay at Stamford Bridge was beset by [injury](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/falcao/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/39152/plus/0?saison=&verein=631&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=), but perhaps the fact he could not get into a team that finished [10th](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table/2015) in the Premier League portrayed his worth to the squad.

Meanwhile, his only goal in a Chelsea shirt was of little value, coming in a shock 2-1 defeat at home to [Crystal Palace](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/falcao/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/39152/plus/0?saison=&verein=631&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=).

In stark contrast, [Abraham](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tammy-abraham/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/331726/plus/0?saison=&verein=631&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) already has more goals in his nine Blues games to date – with the striker even making a matchday squad towards the end of that season which [Falcao](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/falcao/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/39152/plus/0?saison=&verein=631&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) was left out of on two occasions. Given that Abraham was in the squad three years ago at the age of 18, it’s somewhat jarring to think his talent wasn’t trusted sooner. Frankly, his form this season is making such a move look even worse now.

So it turns out that Chelsea needn’t have brought the two-time [Europa League winner](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/falcao/erfolge/spieler/39152) to Stamford Bridge in the first place – as if the last few weeks are anything to go by, they had the No9 shirt’s rightful heir at the club all along.

***Chelsea fans – where did it go wrong for Falcao? Join the discussion by commenting below!***