- Title: SOCCER-CHELSEA/FALCAO Chelsea confirm signing of striker Falcao
- Date: 3rd July 2015
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (FILE - MAY 18, 2013) (REUTERS) ATLETICO PLAYERS AND OFFICIALS ON OPEN TOP BUS TO PARADE THE KING'S CUP TROPHY FALCAO WAVING TO FANS FROM TOP OF BUS FALCAO ON STAGE WITH THE TROPHY
- Embargoed: 18th July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Chile
- Country: Chile
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA3KHOGFP41KEIA9VK6F36UJ9HJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Chelsea announced on Friday (July 3) the signing of Colombian striker Radamel Falcao from French club Monaco on a season-long loan deal.
Falcao, who spent last season on loan with rivals Manchester United, will join up with Jose Mourinho's side for pre-season training as Chelsea look to defend the Premier League title they claimed last season.
The Colombian, who has scored 25 goals for his country, has just returned from the Copa America in Chile, where Colombia crashed out to Argentina at the quarter-final stage.
The 29-year old said he was excited about joining the Premier League champions.
"I am very happy to be joining Chelsea and can't wait to start training and help with our aim of retaining the league title and being successful in Europe," Falcao told Chelsea's website.
Mourinho and Chelsea will be hoping Falcao regains the form that saw him become one of Europe's most feared strikers, during successful spells with Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco.
However, he struggled last year with Manchester United in the Premier League, only scoring four goals in 29 matches.
Falcao, who scored 68 goals in 86 games during a prolific spell at Atletico, joins several of his former team mates from the Spanish capital at Chelsea. Fellow striker Diego Costa, defender Filipe Luis and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois all played alongside Falcao in Madrid.
Falcao is likely to play second-fiddle to Costa, who scored 20 goals in his first season at the club and will be Mourinho's first choice in the upcoming campaign.
However, with Costa's fabled injury concerns, and Chelsea's busy fixture list, Falcao should have plenty of opportunities to prove the doubters wrong and show he can succeed in the Premier League. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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