They say you’ve got to try everything in life and see what’s the best for you. In the world of top-level football, that adage could probably be translated to something like “play in many countries, for different clubs and see where do you feel best”. If you count his home in Colombia, the place where Radamel Falcao feels best is Madrid. After eight years of playing in France, England and Turkey, the 35-year-old former Atletico Madrid star is back in the Spanish capital – but in a different neighbourhood.11 September: (2.10) Levante (3.35) Rayo Vallecano (3.60)As the transfer window deadline day crept to its conclusion, the eyes of the world have been glued to Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Juventus, Real Madrid, and all the big start that could, might or won’t become someone’s marquee signing. Far away from the madness of it all, La Liga new boys Rayo Vallecano pulled off a significant coup in landing The Tiger, as Falcao is known. After the striker had terminated his contract with Turkish powerhouse club Galatasaray, he was free to choose his next adventure. Offers from Serie A clubs Genoa and Venezia weren’t quite what he wanted, but there was another. A plucky, working-class club from the Madrid suburb of Vallekas came calling for the man who’d scored 70 goals in 91 games playing just a few blocks away between 2011 and 2013. The offer made sense. Falcao would get a chance to return to La Liga, the city where he and his family would feel right at home, and what’s also important to him – a place where he would be in the focus of the Colombia national team management. Radamel Falcao will join Rayo Vallecano as free agent in the next hours, confirmed. The agreement has been reached and completed. Official announcement pending. 🐯🇨🇴 #transfers— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 1, 2021 And so, The Tiger said yes and signed a two-year contract with Rayo. Although he’s already roared in this city, the setting of Rayo Vallecano is vastly different to any that the Colombia national team best-ever goalscorer had since crossing the Atlantic to join FC Porto in 2009.Falcao played two years for the Dragons before Atletico Madrid splashed $44 million for his services. It was money well spent. In the limelight of one of Spain’s best-supported clubs, Falcao repeated the feat he’d achieved with Porto the year before and won the Europa League in 2012. After another good campaign in the red and white-striped shirt, he chose to follow the money and a call of even more glamour and luxury – the call of the ambitious AS Monaco, fuelled by a Russian businessman’s cash.##EDITORS_CHOICE##He played an entire season in Monte Carlo, with royalty, film stars and tycoons his neighbours, but a call of a competition stronger than the French Ligue 1 was too hard to resist. He joined Manchester United on loan for a season, but it wasn’t the old, free-scoring Radamel. The year later, he gave it another try – at Chelsea. Again, the money and expensive cars provided a lovely setting in a posh part of London, but the football wasn’t there somehow. And after picking up a serious injury shortly after arriving at Stamford Bridge, it was clear that England wasn’t made for him.He returned to Monaco and thankfully found his mojo again. The red and whites beat the challenge of PSG to claim the 2016/17 Ligue 1 title and reach the Champions League semi-final. Thank you @FALCAO.Good luck! pic.twitter.com/VZX0hITeS3— Cesar Prates (@PratesCesar29) September 1, 2021 After two more years and a total of 83 goals in 140 games at Stade Louis II, Falcao embarked on a whole different adventure by signing for Galatasaray, one of the three biggest clubs in Turkey. However, 20 goals in two seasons weren’t enough for the Istanbul club to win any trophies, and the Colombian’s contract was terminated by mutual consent. Now, as a free agent, The Tiger has chosen a different kind of club. Small, gritty, deeply set in its surroundings and community. A club that keeps taking on wealthier opponents and finds a way to come out swinging. Rayo are back in La Liga, and they’ve secured a fantastic goalscorer. This may not be a story of glamour, title nor luxury, but it could be a love story in the making.Working-class team from a poor neighbourhood comes again to torment the richMaybe it’s what all parties needed after years of wandering in the wilderness.
