Ramadel Falcao’s career has almost flat lined, but his connections to Chelsea make this move a masterstroke from the one man you would expect to revive him.
Falcao rose to prominence after joining FC Porto from River Plate in 2009, averaging close to a goal per game for the Dragões. A striker of supreme talent, Falcao struck fear amongst defenders with an ability to produce the spectacular on regular occurrence. His big money move to Atletico Madrid saw the arrival of a player who quickly became regarded as one of the world’s best.
Over the last 18 months the South American has experienced a cruel fall from grace. An ACL injury on the eve of the 2014 World Cup was ensued by a total loss of confidence, which saw the end of the Falcao we came to know and love.
His high profile loan move to Manchester United at the start of the 2014-2015 season had United fans salivating at the prospect of possessing the Premier League’s holy trinity of strikers (Rooney, Van Persie and Falcao). Unfortunately for United the move nose-dived and Falcao never got into gear, returning a meagre four goals from 26 appearances.
It was clear Louis Van Gaal held no confidence in the striker during his time at Old Trafford, which suggests the deal was one pushed through by United’s owners rather than Van Gaal himself.
After a string of underwhelming performances, Falcao eventually fell further and further down the pecking order. In typical Van Gaal style he made his opinion clear, opting for young inexperienced players and infamously exiling the striker to the under 21 side in March. Van Gaal’s autocratic style of management eventually drained any remaining confidence from the Colombian’s game.
It is clear some players benefit from being kept on the edge by a manager who always demands more and keeps their starting eleven close to their chest. However, other players prefer to feel the love. They need to feel like number one and receive regular reinforcement. Falcao certainly seems the type of player that benefits from the latter.
Unlike Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho can sense a pulse.
‘I spoke with John Terry and Gary Cahill a lot about him,’ were Jose’s words when discussing the rational behind his backing of Falcao. ‘And we think the bright movement is there; the movement to get freedom in the box to score goals is there. Our players had difficulty to control him all the time and we feel the potential is there. Let’s see if he can improve his confidence, his happiness.’
If anyone is to get Falcao back to his best it will be Mourinho, an exceptional man manger, with a remarkable ability to motivate players.
With connections to various squad members at the club, such as Thibaut Courtois and the recently departed Filipe Luis, the most important lies with Juan Cuadrado and Diego Costa.
Cuadrado’s recent arrival at Chelsea has not been smooth sailing, failing to show any of the form he produced at Fiorentina. But now with the addition of his fellow countryman, it’s sure to extract the best from the Colombian and in the process accelerate his adjustment to English football. The beauty of this connection is the deal essentially returns double the investment for Roman Abramovich if both players bring the best out of each other.
The connection, which could potentially make this move one of Mourinho’s best, is Falcao’s relationship with Diego Costa. Their time together at Atletico Madrid provides an immediate understanding of each other’s game, forging the most dangerous strike force in the league. A frontline of Costa and Falcao, fed by the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Oscar will be sure to terrorise the best of Premier League and Champions League defences.
If the Special One manages to bring his new signing back to life, extracting any of the form showed during his time in Spain, the Premier League title will almost certainly remain draped in blue this season.
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Falcao has got a lot of work to do, but I agree if anyone can sort him out, Mourinho can. Little fault of Man United’s, but it could become one of those stories of ‘look what you could have had’, that makes the difference in the title race.