Radamel Falcao has revealed he wanted a Chelsea FC transfer years before his eventual move, describing his time at Manchester United as coming at the wrong moment. The Colombian striker's comments were reported by Daily Mirror Football earlier this year, stemming from his appearance on Mario Suarez's podcast 'El camino de Mario'.
Falcao joined Manchester United on a season-long loan from Monaco on the last day of the 2014 summer window, a period that also saw the arrival of Daley Blind. He had recently returned from an ACL injury. His spell at Old Trafford, under manager Louis van Gaal and after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, yielded just four goals in 29 games.
Falcao stated he arrived at a club in transition and felt subjected to humiliation by Van Gaal. "I arrived at the wrong time: Ferguson had just left and the club was adrift. They kept making mistakes." Falcao said. He claimed the Dutch coach told him he wanted to change the system and put Robin van Persie ahead of him, with Van Persie later leaving after a reported fallout.
Why did Falcao finally join Chelsea?
Falcao's wish for a Chelsea move was finally granted in the summer of 2015, also on a loan deal. He has now explained that his desire to play for the Blues predated that move by several years. "I talked with Juan [Cuadrado] before I came to Chelsea but I had decided I would like to join Chelsea some years ago," Falcao stated. He noted that the media had frequently linked him with a switch to Stamford Bridge before it materialized.
Former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho also spoke with him about the club, telling Falcao how big it was and that he had enjoyed a very good time there. Despite these positive conversations, Falcao's time in West London was hampered by injury. He managed only one goal in 12 appearances before returning to Monaco.
What is the context for Chelsea now?
Chelsea's current situation provides a starkly different backdrop as they prepare for their next match. The team sits 7th in the Premier League with 3 points from one win in their opening game, a form guide you can track on our standings page. They have scored three goals and conceded two, leaving them with a +1 goal difference and three points behind early leaders Manchester City.
Managerial focus is on the immediate challenge of facing Brighton at home on 30 August 2026. Brighton currently sit 2nd in the table, making it a significant early-season test. The squad is also dealing with several absentees, including Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo, whose status can be monitored on our injuries page.
How did Falcao's career progress afterwards?
After his Chelsea loan, Falcao returned to Monaco before embarking on spells with Galatasaray in 2019, Rayo Vallecano in 2021, and Millonarios in 2024. He currently plays for the Colombian side Millonarios. Reflecting on his challenging periods in England, he referenced advice from Marcelo Bielsa about having to swallow his pride and go play.
His story is one of a world-class striker, famed for his prolific spells at Porto and Atletico Madrid, whose Premier League ambitions were ultimately derailed by timing and fitness. For Chelsea, the current campaign continues with a focus on integrating available players and navigating a busy schedule, details of which are on our fixtures list, as they aim to close the gap at the top.
