Crocked Falcao sucked into World Cup abyss

Radamel Falcao is set to be another high-profile star missing from the World Cup after being ruled out for six months through injury.

The Colombia international tore his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for Monaco against Chasselay in the Coupe de France meaning he will play no part in this summer’s tournament in Brazil.

The striker insists he still retains a small hope he will be fit in time, but it is expected that like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who missed out on qualification with Sweden, he will have to make do with simply watching the action.

Friday, January 24, 2014 12:10

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Footballers enjoy the boom after €1.2bn bonanza

This week at Goal we've been running through the 10 biggest transfer deals of the year, and giving you the inside track on how each was completed.

After massive transfer fees, bumpers wages, taxes and agent fees are totted up the sums are truly staggering: Gareth Bale's move will cost Real Madrid €198.8m!

With so much money flying around, no wonder the players have been enjoying themselves!

Wednesday, December 18, 2013 07:00

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No regrets for Falcao after moving to Monaco

 

Radamel Falcao has insisted he is making the right move by joining Monaco, despite criticism from some quarters.

The prolific striker scored 52 league goals in his last two seasons with Atletico Madrid, leading to interest from a number of top clubs.

Chelsea were hoping to lure the Colombian to the Premier League after meeting his €60 million buy-out clause but instead Falcao decided that a move to Monaco was a far more attractive prospect.

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Pole position: Monaco race ahead of PSG with James and Moutinho signings

 

Monaco announced the biggest deal of the summer so far - and we're only a few days into it - with their €70 million (£59.5m) capture of Porto's James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho.

Their first foray into the market has put down a marker in France, where Paris Saint-Germain romped to the Ligue 1 title, and should signal a new superpower on the continent.

And, with the Monaco Grand Prix also taking place this weekend, mega-rich owner Dmitry Rybolovlev impressively diverted attention to the footballing side of the principality.

With Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao likely to also be signing for Claudio Ranieri's side on Monday, Monaco could be nudged further ahead of PSG in the headline-grabbing stakes. 
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Neymar Barca link has La Liga quaking in their boots

 

Despite having Lionel Messi, Alexis Sanchez and David Villa on their books, Barcelona are still keen to bring in Neymar with the Brazilian due to arrive in Spain in July for transfer talks.

Both Dani Alves and Adriano have urged their compatriot to join them at Camp Nou although Manchester City also remain hopeful of capturing the Brazilan's signature.

Indeed should he opt to join Barca his arrival is sure to make waves in La Liga as he goes head to head with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamel Falcao. 

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Atletico losing grip on Europa League crown

 

Current Europa League champions Atletico Madrid are in danger of heading out of the competiton following a 2-0 defeat at home by Rubin Kazan.

Diego Simeone's side fell behind after just six minutes following Gokdeniz Kardeniz's strike, and while the Russian club had Roman Sharonov sent off on the stroke of half time, the visitors were able to secure a second away goal through Pablo Orbaiz's 90th-minute effort. 

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Fear of Falcao keeps Mourinho up all night

 

This weekend, the Santiago Bernabeu plays host to one of the most hotly-anticipated Madrid derbies in years, with Jose Mourinho's struggling Real taking on Diego Simeone's in-form Atletico.

The fixture has traditionally been something of a mismatch, with Real invariably enjoying comfortable victories over a succession of talented but underachieving Atletico sides.

This season, however, the tables appear to have turned. Real lie eight points behind their Madrid rivals, having already tasted defeat three times this season.

Atletico, however, have established themselves as Barcelona's closest La Liga challengers, inspired by their prolific Colombian striker Falcao, who has already netted 11 times in the league this season.

Mourinho is a known admirer of Atleti's irrepressible No9, labelling him "forbidden fruit" earlier in the campaign, and it is Falcao who will surely have been keeping an anxious Special One awake this week.
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Bah Humbug - Ronaldo a 'Christmas wish' too far for Sir Alex Ferguson & Manchester United

 

He would be quite the stocking filler for Manchester United but even Sir Alex Ferguson admits the prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford is just a "Christmas wish".

Last week, Sir Alex claimed the door is always open for the Portuguese international to make his return to United, although the 70-year-old conceded the forward would be "unbuyable" from Real Madrid.

With Roberto Di Matteo possibly bolstering his Chelsea ranks with the perfect festive gift in the form of Atletico Madrid ace Falcao, Sir Alex may have to poke around the January sales to find ways of improving his side.

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Ronaldo's stars align as he tops the Goal.com 50

 

This year's Goal.com 50 has been announced with Cristiano Ronaldo revealed as the top player of the past 12 months.

Real Madrid team-mate Iker Casillas was surprisingly placed second with Lionel Messi shunted down to third after Los Blancos' title-winning exploits in La Liga last term.
The list has sparked debate and intrigue among fans and pundits alike, and is likely to continue to do so for time to come.

Not everyone has the time to pore over the facts and stats of the list in full so we have brought the entire 50 to you in the simplest of forms.
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Falcao leaves Bilbao's kids in tears

 

Atletico Madrid secured Europa League success with a 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday evening and Radamel Falcao was instrumental in his side's showpiece triumph.

The Colombian opened the scoring with a superb curled effort before completing his double 11 minutes from half-time with a sharp turn and finish from close range.

Falcao has enjoyed an extremely positive first season with the Spanish club following his arrival from Porto in the summer, notching 35 goals in all competitions - and now he has brought the Europa League trophy with him.
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2011-2012 Europa League Final

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