Radamel Falcao has officially joined Chelsea on season-long loan with the option to make the move permanent. The deal sees Chelsea midfielder Mario Pasalic, who spent his first year after signing with the Blues on loan at La Liga outfit Elche, going to AS Monaco on loan as well.
Falcao joined Monaco in 2013, but following an injury in his first season with the club, he spent the 2014-15 campaign on loan with Manchester United. He scored only four goals in 29 appearances for the Red Devils, dissuading manager Louis Van Gaal from offering to make the move permanent for £43.2 million.
Mourinho had hinted a transfer before a deal was done
However, Blues boss Jose Mourinho has offered the Colombian striker another chance in the Premier League despite his performance at Old Trafford, indicating that he hopes to help Falcao reach his best form.
“I know him very well from when I was in Portugal and Spain," said Mourinho. He thinks that, "for a player of his level and quality", it’s a pity that the English people believe is he "the same player was at Manchester United".
“I don’t have a close relationship with him," he admitted. However he said "it hurts me because he’s a great player". The Chelsea boss said it would "give me pleasure" if there was a way to help the Premier League supports get to know "the real Falcao".
Pasalic set for first-team minutes
The deal that Mourinho agreed to includes paying a reported fee of £7 million and sending Mario Pasalic to Monaco. The Croatian midfielder scored three goals in 31 appearances while on loan at Elche as the Spanish side finished 13th in the table.
At Monaco, the 20-year-old will get an opportunity to play for a bigger club and gain UEFA Champions League experience. If he impresses, he could eventually be considered as a first-team central midfielder for the Blues.
Falcao could also potentially gain a first-team spot at Chelsea if all goes well as the current Premier League champions have lost Didier Drogba in attack after last season and are looking for a suitable replacement.
Falcao will be reuniting with former Atletico Madrid teammates Diego Costa, Filipe Luis, and Thibaut Courtois in London. If he can recapture the form he had with these three at Atletico, then his place at Stamford Bridge is assured in principle.