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AS Monaco makes it official, completes Falcao signing

Radamel Falcao Atletico (Getty Images)

By DAN KARELL

AS Monaco has splashed the cash once more, signing Radamel Falcao Garcia ahead of next season’s Ligue 1 campaign.

The club coached by Claudio Ranieri released a statement on their website confirming the transfer, with Falcao signing a five-year contract. Though terms of the deal were not enclosed, reports are claiming that the 26-year-old Colombian cost AS Monaco upwards of $78 million as a transfer fee. Monaco has already spend nearly $91 million to sign James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho.

Falcao comes from Atletico Madrid, where he lead them to a Copa Del Rey and Europa League title, as well as qualification for the Champions League next year, scoring 58 goals in all competitions during his two years at the Vicente Calderon.

What do you make of the move? Disappointed in Falcao? Think he should have gone to a bigger league? Think that AS Monaco can compete for the Ligue 1 title next season?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I say give the guy a break. Everyone has their own definition of success and winning. So now Monaco becomes the latest big money ‘project ‘in world/Euro football…say the new PSG or ‘Citeh’…but without the associated politics and baggage. So the goal is to win in France and the carrot of the Champs League… after local success, he may still have a trophy-transfer in his future, and his family would be rooted in Monaco!!! Within a stone’s throw from Cannes and Nice, France – his wife will have the best shopping on the planet! Skiing in the Alps…sunning on the yacht….;

    How many of you have been to Monaco? ?? I have and if someone offered me $12 euros (?) a year plus a multimillion euro signing bonus (?) to live in a free Mediterranean front penthouse, with la familia at the pre-alps Villa in one of the most beautiful places on the planet – with just about the highest standard of living and education, do the math – He already won the game!

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  2. I tried to read this story but all I saw was $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

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  3. With the third party ownership exactly how much say did Falcao have in this move? Or did his investors insist on someone like Monaco because they offered the highest fee? Somewhat like Hulk’s move to Zenit as he too was owned by third parties.

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  4. No taxes really does help bring players in.. With their new financial backing, Monaco could certainly bring in players from around France and Europe..

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  5. People need to chill out, it’s one more league he can score 30 goals in and be a stud like Ibra and then back to the promise land of the top 3 in a year or two. Retirement money, tax free.

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  6. Does seem like a curious move as one would think there were bigger clubs out there wanting him. I suspect that the bigger pocketbook won out with Monaco meeting the buyout figure. This may be a case where Atletico sold to the highest bidder and Falcao honored it. Of course, he is getting a big tax-free paycheck in the process and become part of huge makeover. There were some “rumors” mentioned in other articles about an “out” clause after the first year; however, Monaco denies that. If Monaco does not qualify for CL and Real Madrid comes calling . . . I can easily see it. Overall, good for Falcao as he is one of the best in the world right now and represents his country well.

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  7. French league becoming a top league. They always had depth. Now with PSG and Monaco they will have elite teams as well.

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    • I don’t watch a lot of Ligue 1.

      Is the competition that good or are people gushing because of PSG/Monaco’s spending? Are we talking overall competition from top to bottom or quality compared to other leagues?

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      • I think Ligue 1 is pretty squarely in 5th place in terms of depth.

        As to the stadium size, Monacco isn’t that big of a city and the stadium dates to the 20s/30s. They can’t exactly take over a parking lot and build a new one.

  8. Maybe they will draw a few thousand people to see their games. Monaco may have a lot of financial support, but they don’t exactly fill their stadium, ever.

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    • Even so, apparently Wikipedia says their maximum capacity is 18k. Respectable in MLS, not so much when you want to be an “elite” club.

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    • The guy is 27 and at his absolute peak. He’s never been paid superstar wages before. This is his one chance to get a huge payday. I don’t begrudge him anything.

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  9. $78 million is a lot for a dead 80s popstar. Seriously, though, the dollar figures being tossed around would raise sustainability issues.

    Is Porto – Atletico – Monaco really upward? He’s getting old enough he may not have a Big Club move left in him by the time he burns through this deal. I’m sure the concept is Monaco will build their own little PSG, but all that money bought them was losing to Barca in the CL quarters.

    Any truth to the rumor they will now be Monacao?

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  10. Who owns AS Monaco, and are they gearing up to buy their way to prominence PSG-style? This seems like a very strange move otherwise.

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  11. Interesting, Clint left his team last year because he wanted a chance to play CL….Falcao leaves a team qualified for CL to go to a team that definitely won’t be playing CL next season…..

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    • Yet after this year, AS Monaco will be in the CL picture EVERY year.

      Monaco will continue to add great players because of Monaco’s tax-free living for foreigners.

      I would hop on that train in a heartbeat.

      Money talks.

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      • Malaga thought the same, look what happened to them. Big spending QPR thought they’d be in the PL next year, look what happened to them.

        There are far more stories of big spending teams losing money, owners leaving, and clubs going basically bankrupt than successes.

      • I wish Jozy could go to Monaco and be the Falcao Target Striker/ Understudy.

    • Cost in pay difference is worth it I guess…and at the rate they are spending Monaco will have pretty good chances of champs league in the future.

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  12. With PSG’s resurgence and the talented French players, Ligue 1 is no pushover. Plus he was looking for some extra $$$$$$$$$. Nowadays, I am not surprised by player signings with all the money flowing freely.

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    • But the question remains: Why go to a lower league, to a team not in Europe, and one that isn’t any bigger than Athletico? My wife is Colombian and the media appears to be attacking him for choosing money over improvement. A lot of them are disappointed.

      As someone who has followed him since Porto, I’m disappointed too. At a bigger club he could have been a legend. He’ll remain a great striker, but the prestige wont follow.

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      • Josh, the simple answer is money. Ibra and Thiago Silva left AC Milan for a lower league and a lesser club (PSG) last year for the same reason. And with the deep pocket owners, who are willing to spend, Monaco could follow the rise of clubs like ManCity or PSG, so there may be something there from a sporting prospective too. There may not have been too many viable options for Falcao to consider. Falcao could not sign with Barca, which spent most of its transfer budget on Neymar and Athletico would not have sold him to its bitter rival, Real Madrid. Bayern is pretty loaded at striker, and while they would not hesitate to bring him in on the cheap, I don’t think they would be willing to spend big money. Dortmund is traditionally not a big spender in the the transfer market. Italian teams also dialed down their spending and EPL’s physical, direct style may not have appealed to Falcao. French league may have been his best realistic option at the moment.

      • Great points. Falcao could excel in the EPL as he is multi-dimensional and has the ability to adapt to any system. It could have been the style or perhaps England did not suit him personally. Real Madrid appears to be the best fit among the big clubs, but it would be hard (impossible?) to move directly from Atletico to Real. Maybe he can help build Monaco into a title contender. He also becomes arguably the “top” player in his league (he was always going to be at best #3 in Spain . . . also second fiddle in his own city).

      • “Ibra and Thiago Silva left AC Milan for a lower league and a lesser club (PSG) last year ”

        And PSG is a better club than AC Milan right now and for the foreseeable future. Story is NOW complete.

    • He’ll be making 14 million Euros next year. Untaxed. In one of the most beautiful places in the world. And judging by the players that Monaco have already signed they will be competing for champion’s league in his first year. Not even to mention the fact that he had little to no say since most of his rights belong to a third party ownership group who were just going to sell him to the highest bidder. And let’s not forget that Monaco has a storied history in Ligue 1. They’ve won more Ligue 1 championships then Paris St. Germain and Lyon. But ya he’s the idiot.

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      • Annnnnnd next year is the World Cup. Colombia will a really strong squad and not playing all those extra Champion’s League game will definitely help his legs. Also playing alongside his countrymen James Rodriguez will help be great for their chemistry.

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