In 2013, Claudio Ranieri achieved promotion with a multi talented and ambitious AS Monaco sqaud from Ligue 2. The summer that followed was beyond the wildest imagination of even Prince Albert himself when the club spent over €100million' worth of talent on some of Europe's hottest prospects and inform players. Heads were certainly being turned towards events in Monaco as the tax costless haven was attracting some of the most profilic and in demand players currently playing in Europe's top divisions.
Financed by the filthy rich Russian billionaire, Dmitry Rybolovlev's fortune, Monaco commenced the transition from being an average side yo-yoing up and down the divisions to establishing themselves as not only France's top club but aiming to go one better than their success in 2004, and actually become Europe's premier club.
In demand Atletico Madrid striker, Radamel Falcao, had become a target for many of European elites top clubs including city rivals Real Madrid. When Monaco's interest in the Columbian became evident, Falcao jumped at the chance to join the French outfit in a deal worth more than €50million and a weekly wage of nearly €300,000 per week in a tax costless paradise.
It wasn't just Falcao who opted for the comfortable living in Monaco as his compartiot, James Rodriquez, and former Porto teammate Joao Moutinho left Porto to join Ranieri's nearly crowned Ligue 2 champions. The highly-rated Geoffry Kongdobia rejected offers from England, Italy and also the chance to remain in Spain with Sevilla to join the Monaco project.
What could go wrong? The year ended with Monaco and PSG going neck and neck for the Ligue 1 title and all seemingly working at the club. In a cup game against lower league opposition, Falcao was tackled and injured his cruciate ligaments which would see him miss the remainder of Monaco's title challenge.
The injury to Falcao was accumulated by a personal issue involving Rybolovlev. Monaco's owner and his wife were facing a nasty divorce issue and would result in Dmitry losing more than €2.2billion of his net worth. It was after this legal issue rumours commenced questioning whether Rybolovlev would remain interested in the project he created at the club.
Hampering their title challenge no doubt was the persistent talk of Claudio Ranieri facing the sack in the summer of 2014 as he wasn't deemed good enough for the hottest at the Stade Louis II. When the club narrowly missed out to PSG with a record breaking points total for a runner up in France, Ranieri was sacked and replaced by Sporting Lisbon coach Leanardo Jardim.
Jardim had a reputation in Portugal for playing a youthful side and his appointment and lack of financial investment seen it difficult for the club to emulate the transfer success of the previous summer. James Rodriquez was sold for €63million to Real Madrid after finishing as the golden boot winner during the 2014 World Cup.
Falcao's return from injury created a large question mark over his head and was expected to join Real Madrid also but when Manchester United were willing to pay €6million to loan the Columbian hitman, the French outfit had no option but to accept the bid as Falcao had expressed his wish to leave France.
It may have been short and maybe it isn't finished as of yet, but the Monaco dream of dominating Europe will be put on the back burner until the club is once again ability to invest heavily in top talent and aim to regain their Champions League status sooner rather than later.