By DAN KARELL
Like a Spanish telanovela, the twists and turns in the transfer saga of Radamel Falcao Garcia are either laugh inducing, or the kind that gets your attention right away.
Last week, Spanish publication Marca reported that Manchester United were the new team on the block interested in the Colombian forward’s services. More so, they were reported to have paid a large sum of money to Atletico Madrid already for Falcao’s negotiating rights.
When asked about the reports following United’s 2-0 win against Stoke City, manager Sir Alex Ferguson emphatically denied them.
“Do you honestly believe that? Really? It does amaze me that you come up with that one,” Ferguson told ESPN FC.
Despite this statement, multiple English publications have reported that United’s chief scout Jim Lawlor was in Madrid to watch Falcao play, where he scored twice in a 5-0 win over Granada on Sunday.
Here are some more stories to get your Monday started:
NEWMAR INCHES CLOSER TOWARDS BARCELONA MOVE
As the summer transfer window approaches, the reports surrounding Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. continue to grow and expand like a multicellular organism.
Speaking to Brazilian radio station Radio Globo, a South American representative of Barcelona reportedly confirmed the club’s serious interest in Neymar, and said that if possible, they’d like to bring Neymar to Spain by the start of next season.
“At Barcelona we do not usually sign many players, and he is our first choice, Andre Cury told Radio Globo.” When he decides to leave Santos, we will be ready.
“Messi, Xavi and Iniesta are already awaiting him with open arms.”
The 21-year-old Brazilian star scored four goals at the weekend, and is likely to move within the next two years to either Barcelona or Real Madrid. So far since the start of the year, Neymar has scored 12 goals in 13 matches in the Paulista state championship for Santos.
KLOPP FIRES SHOTS ACROSS REAL MADRID BOW
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was in attendance in Furth on Sunday to see future Champions League opponents Borussia Dortmund up close and personal.
After find out that Mourinho was at the match, a 6-1 win for last year’s German champions, Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp said that the Portuguese manager was wasting his time going to the match, and was even foolish to leave early.
“If he needs the experience of seeing his opponent in the stadium then there is obviously no problem,” Klopp told Marca. “However he left when we were 5-0 up so he missed our weaknesses.
“I could have told him that we are quite a good team myself if he had called me on the phone.”
Mourinho and Klopp will go head to head in the two-legged semi-finals in the UEFA Champions League on April 24 in Dortmund and April 30 in Madrid.
QUICK KICKS
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness hopes that one of the biggest clubs in the world are taken down by UEFA’s Financial Fair Play. (REPORT)
Australia’s Central Coast Mariners defeated the Melbourne Victory 1-0 to make it to the A-League grand final. (REPORT)
Ajax manager Frank de Boer has said he would be interested in taking the Manchester City job. (REPORT)
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What do you make of these reports? Do you see Manchester United are serious in their pursuit of Falcao? Think Neymar moves this summer to Barcelona? Do you like the added Mourinho vs. Klopp storyline in the match-up?
Share your thoughts below.