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Falcao seeks redemption with Colombia at Copa America

Colombia striker Radamel Falcao hit out at his critics on Sunday as he prepared to lead the national side in their Copa America campaign in Chile. The 29-year-old was dubbed a failure for his poor season at Manchester United in the English Premier League. 

Jose Pekerman (left) has appointed Radamel Falcao captain of the Colombia national team for the Copa America.
Jose Pekerman (left) has appointed Radamel Falcao captain of the Colombia national team for the Copa America. Reuters/Enrique Marcarian
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Loaned from Monaco at the outset of the 2014/2015 season amid much fanfare, the former Porto and Atletico Madrid attacker scored four goals in 29 appearances for Louis van Gaal's side.

Just before Colombia's opening game in Group C against Venezuela in Rancagua on Sunday, Falcao said he had become a more complete footballer during his stint at Old Trafford.

"Falcao was always there," he added. "It depends what criteria you are using. People said I was not on the field and not scoring goals but I was always there."

Just before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Falcao was one of the most sought-after players in Europe. Courted by a host of leading clubs, he eventually left Atletico Madrid in 2013 for Monaco.

His prowess in front of goal continued for the French outfit. But then the adventure stuttered. He suffered a knee injury in a Coupe de France tie six months before the World Cup and was unable to recover. James Rodriguez, his Monaco strike partner, led the Colombia line in Brazil and the then 22-year-old impressed with a series of spectacular strikes that helped the side reach the last eight.

While Rodriguez subsequently secured a big money move to the glamour and glitz of Real Madrid, Falcao has become a wandering soul.

Manchester United do not want to take up an option to buy the player or even extend the loan. Van Gaal has added Memphis Depay to the roster of strikers at Old Trafford and there are rumours that United are keen to sign the Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane.

Stuart Mathieson, a football correspondent at the Manchester Evening News, said Falcao may just have been unlucky in his time at Old Trafford.

"United spent more than 200 million euros last summer on new players," he told RFI. "United fans had been wanting that kind of investment in the squad for many summers but when you do that it takes time for that to gel."

Unfortunately for the Colombian, the cohesion came when he was struggling with a calf injury and out of the first team reckoning. When he did get the chance to be in the starting line-up - the game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in April - he was denied a goal by the woodwork and then lost possession in the build-up to Eden Hazard's winner for the Blues.

After such setbacks and the salient ignominy of being asked to train with the reserve side, Falcao has been at least given a boost on national duty.

Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has appointed him team captain following the retirement of the former Paris Saint Germain and AC Milan defender Mario Yepes.

"We must always trust him," said Pekerman. "He has always overcome difficulties to have success."

A strong showing at the Copa America may help to persuade the executives holding the purse-strings of longtime admirer Jose Mourinho.

The Chelsea manager needs a new striker for his side's defence of their 2015 Premier League title. The hunt follows the departure of the Ivorian Didier Drogba who quit to pursue more first team action.

Mourinho told the South American channel Direct TV Sports that he would be keen to help the Colombian rediscover his level.

"It upsets me to think that people in England think the real Falcao is the man they've seen at Manchester United," said the Portuguese.

Colombia won the Copa America in 2001 and after reaching the last eight in Brazil, the side has shown it has nothing to fear from the traditional powerhouses such as Brazil and Argentina.

"It would be great to repeat the experience of what we did at the World Cup," said Falcao. "This team has grown a lot in recent years. It is a team that knows it can win and is the equal of any other side and has no complex against the big countries." 

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