Man United made a deadline day loan swoop for Monaco striker Radamel Falcao in the summer of 2014.
The Colombian had scored 70 goals in two seasons for Atlético Madrid and had established himself as one of the most lethal number nines in world football before securing a deal to Monaco in 2013.
However, his first season in Ligue 1 was marred by an ACL injury midway through which not only ended his season, but ruled him out of the World Cup.
Therefore, the striker needed a place to get his career back on track, and Man United seemed like the perfect place. The Red Devils were struggling a bit, and had just appointed Louis van Gaal as their new manager. Fans knew how much of a star the Colombian was, and believed that this was the man to take their club forward.
This is what the fans had to say:
https://twitter.com/OneSweetWorld89/status/506781258543013888
@ManUtd @FALCAO Excited?? It’s an understatement..There are no words to define this sensation I’m feeling right now…
— STP (@sharon_ManUtd) September 2, 2014
@ManUtd @FALCAO My countryman is a thousand times better than Welback !!! Now go for a CB and a better Ofensive Midfielder.
— Edar Rohur (@SOLOROJO07) September 2, 2014
@ManUtd @FALCAO Welcome to ManUtd..may ur name strike fear in every defenders’ heart and bring glory to Old Trafford’s faithful..
— ross (@Rossalert33) September 2, 2014
@ManUtd @Falcao Welcome to OT! Hope you end up loving it here and stay longer.
— sarah (@xosassysarahxo) September 2, 2014
@ManUtd @FALCAO Are you people crazy? Falcao is a world class striker. Welbeck is at best 3rd tier.
— Jeff Soble (@jeffsoble) September 2, 2014
A striker with substance..GGMU @ManUtd @FALCAO
— justice edwards (@junaldolove22) September 2, 2014
@ManUtd @FALCAO good things are coming
— Harry Winks (@harry_winks) September 2, 2014
@ManUtd @FALCAO He will definitely be a hit at Utd brilliant player.
— Wellington Maphosa (@wellass74) September 2, 2014
@ManUtd @FALCAO am I the only one who’s excited?! I’m sad to see welbz go believe me but falcao is on another level. Falcao = goal machine
— Craig Therin (@therin86) September 2, 2014
@ManUtd @FALCAO great signing!
— c3pzero (@c3pzero) September 2, 2014
@ManUtd @FALCAO best no9 in the world !!!welcome
— Max Brown (@maxbrown3268) September 2, 2014
@ManUtd @FALCAO What a quality player he is.
— DR (@DR_17_) September 2, 2014
The Colombian only spent one year at Manchester, and it was infamously poor. Poor fitness and poor work ethic saw the striker have a disastrous spell at Old Trafford.
For a player that had made his name as a lethal finisher, Falcao only mustered four league goals for The Red Devils, and was even demoted to the under-21s side by manager van Gaal.
No matter what way you look at this, it was a terrible let down for fans. It was a player with so much expected of him, who ultimately ate up the wage bill and gave nothing back on the field.
