Radamel Falcao joins Manchester United: 'Surprise' transfer wasn't a shock as striker reveals talks were held 'for some months'

Falcao completed a season-long loan to United with the option of a permanent deal

Radamel Falcao poses with his United shirt (Getty Images)

Manchester United’s deadline day signing Radamel Falcao has injected a rejuvenated optimism among the club’s supporters as they look to kick-start their already faltering season, but the striker has revealed that his ‘surprise’ loan move to the Premier League wasn’t actually that surprising at all.

In fact, United had been in talks to sign the Colombian forward “for some months”, according to the 28-year-old himself.

The £6m addition to Louis van Gaal’s squad revealed that the deadline day move was in the pipeline for some time, although negotiations between United and French side Monaco were only concluded in the final stages of the summer transfer window. Confirmation that Falcao’s arrival at United did not come until 1.30am on Tuesday morning, over two hours after the deadline had come and gone after the club had to submit the required paperwork to the Premier League in order to gain an extension to complete negotiations.

After securing the move, Falcao headed out to the United States where h hopes to feature for Colombia against Brazil in a repeat of the World Cup quarter-final earlier this summer, and the striker has revealed how the dramatic move came about.

“I am very proud to be at Manchester United,” said Falcao ahead of tomorrow’s match at the SunLife Stadium. “We have been in talks with the club for some months and, in the end, we were able to reach an agreement with Monaco on the last day of the transfer deadline.”

His acquisition capped an expensive summer for United as Van Gaal attempts to rebuild the squad left to him by his predecessor David Moyes. Falcao was the sixth new face to join the club in a package that will cost nearly £20m in fees and wages for the season, but United had already broken two transfer records earlier in the window.

Luke Shaw became the most expensive teenager in the world after he completed a £28m switch from Southampton, while United broke the British transfer record with the £59.7m move for Angel Di Maria as the Champions League winner decided to leave Real Madrid.

Falcao will link up with his former Monaco team-mate James Rodriguez with Colombia (Getty Images)

Falcao admitted that he is yet to meet up with his new team-mates, but was clearly excited to form a partnership with the Argentinian after praising both his abilities and his style of play.

“I haven't had the opportunity to speak with the players but, although they are stars, they are also footballers that play for the team to achieve the common goals of the group,” added Falcao. “I am sure this will be the basis of our success and in any team that wants to achieve important things.

“Angel (Di Maria) is a fantastic player. I love the way he plays, I really do. I am very excited to be a team-mate of his and also to be part of Manchester United.”

United were sure to carry out an extensive medical before announcing the Falcao deal after the striker only recently recovered from a serious knee injury that also robbed him of the chance to play in the World Cup. He returned to action to leave a mark on one Premier League club as he scored the winning goal against Arsenal in the pre-season Emirates Cup, and hopes to do some more damage once the Premier League resumes next weekend when Untied search for their first competitive win of the season against Queens Park Rangers.

He was also quick to thank God for helping him return from the torn cruciate ligament he suffered earlier in the year, and hopes to repay the fans that sent him goodwill messages with his performances on the pitch for both club and country.

“I trusted in God to return to football, I have worked very hard every day to achieve it and thank God my work paid off, being able to come back normally, scoring goals. I'm feeling relaxed about it,” he explained.

“When I had to go for surgery, all the country sent positive messages. I was very happy with that and all I want is to give back some of this happiness I received both with the national team and at my club.”