Is Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev a Beatles fan? According to him, all Falcao needs is a little love.
With the highly-rated Colombian struggling to make a serious impact at Manchester United, Vasilyev addressed the possibility of Falcao returning to Monaco at the end of his loan deal, and he says he’d be more than happy to take him back.
“It is always possible he can play for Monaco again,” said Vasilyev during the pre-match buildup to their Champions League match with Arsenal this week. “We have interest from other great clubs but we are waiting for the decision of Manchester United.”
The Red Devils have the option to purchase Falcao at the end of his loan this year, but so far he hasn’t done much to validate what would surely be a huge payout for his services. The 29-year-old has scored just four goals in 14 Premier League appearances this season, and coming off major knee surgery twice in his career - once this summer - many have speculated that his body is breaking down. But according to Vasilyev, it’s his new club environment that needs to improve.
“I am not worried for Falcao,” said Vasilyev. “He is a great player and goal scorer. Mentally he is strong and technically he is one of the best. Sometimes you have a difficult spell, and little things make the difference. It can be the trust of the coach.”
Louis van Gaal has only used Falcao sparingly, but Vasilyev isn’t spooked by the Dutchman’s decision.
“Football has many examples of amazing players who go from one team to another and are not the same, then go back and explode,” Vasilyev said. He also pointed to the wage clause in Falcao’s contract, which runs for three more years. “After a difficult period you need support, you need confidence. Falcao’s contract ties him to Monaco until 2018 and his £280,000-a-week wage is a huge commitment from any club outside the French tax haven.”
That tax haven Vasilyev is speaking about is the principality of Monaco, which is exempt from French national income taxes, so Falcao’s wage is an after-tax figure. For a team to match that, as Vasilyev says, it would require the new club to nearly double that.