The iconic striker's father has explained his son's decision to choose Manchester United over Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City
Fasika Zelealem Senior Sports Reporter and Dylan James
08:30, 24 Jan 2026
Falcao and Di Maria
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The likes of Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao flopped at Manchester United(Image: GETTY )
Radamel Falcao snubbed Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City to join Manchester United. It was in 2014 when the forward became the latest marquee signing for the Red Devils, a choice he made on deadline day.
According to the Colombian's father, Falcao viewed United as England's most significant club and was willing to reject proposals from their fiercest competitors to make Old Trafford his home.
The striker initially made his mark on the global scene with Porto before his spell at Atletico Madrid established him as one of Europe's deadliest forwards. A tally of 70 goals in 91 appearances in Spain helped Falcao guide Diego Simeone's team to consecutive Europa League triumphs in 2011 and 2012.
Following 34 strikes in his second and final campaign in Madrid, he moved to Monaco for a reported £50million but endured a catastrophic knee injury just six months into his time in the principality.
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Radamel Falcao looks on
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Radamel Falcao failed to find his footing with Manchester United(Image: PA)
When he recovered from injury the subsequent summer, a loan switch to United was arranged, providing United with the opportunity to make the deal permanent for a reported £43.5m fee. United, then managed by Louis van Gaal, were understood to have outmanoeuvred several domestic competitors for Falcao's services.
Radamel Garcia, Falcao's father and a former footballer who represented Colombia and featured at the 1980 Summer Olympics, revealed the clubs his son turned down to sign for United. "Manchester United is the most important team in England and one of the most powerful financially," he stated on Colombian radio.
"Juventus, Manchester City, Liverpool also approached him and Arsenal at the last minute. Fortunately, he ended up at Manchester United, a great team that he has to lead forward."
Days before Falcao completed his move to Old Trafford, he fuelled speculation about a switch across the Spanish capital to Real Madrid after posting on social media: "Hala Madrid."
The apparent pursuit of a transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu collapsed, with his father explaining the reasons.
Radamel Falcao and Louis van Gaal
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Falcao and Van Gaal worked together(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
He said: "Things did not happen with Real Madrid because if you have money and you go to the shops to buy a shirt or trousers, you have to decide if you buy it or not. So Real Madrid opted not to do it and you can't do anything about that. Apart from that, I don't know, I have a feeling they wanted the player to offer himself as a gift with a number of conditions and things like that.
"It didn't happen because, as I said, they decided to buy the trousers and the shirt they wanted, and they considered what was better for them and you have to accept that because they are the ones who pay the money. Thank God, everything happened with Manchester United."
Despite the standing he established in Spain and France, 'El Tigre' never truly found his rhythm in England. During his only campaign at Old Trafford, he netted merely four goals across 29 appearances in all competitions.
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Following his return to parent club Monaco, he was once again loaned to the Premier League, this time joining Chelsea. Nevertheless, Falcao's luck in England's top division remained unchanged, as he found the net just once in 12 outings before a severe thigh problem curtailed his campaign prematurely.
A permanent switch to Galatasaray for Falcao was secured in 2019, where he remained for two seasons in Turkey before heading back to Spain with Rayo Vallecano. Following three campaigns back in LaLiga, Falcao returned to Colombia to turn out for Millonarios and remains with the club to this day.