Opinion | Falcao: Mercenary Or On A Mission?
It's official. Silly season is underway and already we've been treated to a number of tasty transfer rumours. Behind the closed doors of Europe's top clubs the drama is unfolding as agents and clubs scramble for the best deals. The main talking point so far has been Radamel Falcao declining every top team in Europe to pen a deal with mega-money rich kids Monaco.
Falcao snubbed some of Europe's big hitters to hook up with Monaco, who aren't in Europe next season and whose Stade Louis II only holds 18,500; picturesque and big enough to hold half the population of Monaco, but it's hardly the Nou Camp or Old Trafford, in fact Monaco's average attendance last season was just over 5,000, that's less than the majority of third tiered English clubs. Is he in it for the money or does he genuinely feel he's going to be part of an exciting project? We'll hazard a guess at the cash.
Granted, Monaco isn't too shabby as well as being a tax free haven but he'd hardly have been on minimum wage anywhere else. Maybe we're just a little bit bitter that he's not heading to the Prem and maybe we'll never get to know the answer to that age old question; Could he do it on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke? Course he could, but doing it on a warm Tuesday evening in Monaco does sound more appealing.
Falcao often spoke of his desire to play Champions League football - a competition that Atletico Madrid are in next season - whereas Monaco won't even be keeping us occupied on Thursday nights. You'd think after notching a hat-trick in the Super Cup final (at the Stade Louis II funnily enough) he'd have got the taste for the big occasions but at Monaco he won't be playing in a major European match for a long time to come and with PSG splashing the cash we wouldn't be surprised if they end up trophyless next season.
Some are seeing this move as a stepping stone for Falcao, suppose it could make sense? Leave Atletico, earn a bucket load of cash for a couple of seasons and then complete a dream move to Real Madrid without directly joining straight from their city rivals, but is banging goals in for Monaco really proving that you're doing it at the top level? We're not so sure he's put himself in the right shop window...
We can understand why Ricardo Carvalho is keen for one final big contract and to see out his career - in which he has won just about every club trophy going - but for Falcao it has to be seen as a step backwards. Incredible place to live, unbelievable wage packet but is that enough? Surely it will only be a matter of time until he's sat on his yacht in Monaco harbour watching the Champions League final thinking, you know what, I fancy a bit of that. But at 27 he may have missed his last chance to join one of Europe's elite.
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It won't be long before the entire starting eleven at the club are represented by super agent Jorge Mendes - who is also part of the consortium that own Falcao and represents the player along with Ricky C. In fact, when highly rated young stars James Rodriguez and Moutinho travelled to Monaco for a medical and to finalise terms, they were accompanied by Mendes. Perhaps he is the common denominator in these transfers? Or just a very good agent? Or on outragous commision?
Both Rodriguez and Moutinho had been strongly tracked by United and Spurs, but chose to join the project at Monaco over say La Liga or the Premier League. Maybe there is something exciting about being part of a new force, but it's a big gamble.
Most fans can understand these days that football is a business at the end of the day and players are quite within their rights to make a move for a better chance of trophies - Ashley Cole may cop some stick for his move but you can bet he doesn t regret it after the trophies he's won at Stamford Bridge. However, to move for money and money alone is something that fans will never take kindly to.
What are your thoughts on Falcao's move to Monaco? Let us know. Join the conversation online, on Twitter on Facebook.
