• Premier League

Falcao: We were in talks with United for months

Radamel Falcao has revealed he was in talks with Manchester United for months before his deadline-day loan move to Old Trafford.

The striker had been rumoured to be joining Real Madrid from Ligue 1 side Monaco, with his father claiming the deal only fell through at the last minute because of disagreements over personal terms.

But Falcao, speaking on Wednesday during training ahead of Colombia's clash with Brazil in Miami, said he had been in discussions to join United for "some months".

"I am very proud to be at Manchester United," Falcao said. "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."

Falcao was eventually announced as a United player at 1.30am on Tuesday - more than two hours after the 11pm deadline - after the Premier League approved a £6 million loan deal for the striker.

On Tuesday, Falcao's father claimed that Madrid backed out of signing his son, accusing them of treating him like a pair of trousers they tried on but did not want to buy.

But Falcao has insisted he was excited to move to Old Trafford and is looking forward to linking up with fellow arrival Angel Di Maria, who joined United from Madrid for a British record £59.7m.

"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," Falcao said. "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."

Falcao has only just recovered after six months out with a serious knee injury, which also kept him out of Colombia's World Cup squad.

"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," Falcao said. "I'm feeling relaxed about it.

"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."

Radamel Falcao celebrates scoring for Monaco last month before his loan move to Manchester United © Getty Images

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