Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao has confirmed what I have been saying for weeks now. That he will not be going anywhere in the upcoming January transfer window.
The Colombian has been linked with a £50million move to Chelsea, but the 26-year-old Falcao thinks he will stay at Atletico until at least the end of the season.
“I recognise the great effort made by (Atletico president) Enrique Cerezo for me to stay at the club” said Falcao.
“I thank God our results have been so positive and that we have done so well this season so far. My expectation is that I will be staying at the club until the end of the season.”
Atletico will welcome the words after sporting director Jose Luiz Perez Caminero gave an insight of the hard work made to keep Falcao at the club.
“You have to appreciate the efforts made by the club. It is difficult to keep a player of his class” Caminero said
“But we have all benefited and are happy to have one of the best players in the world at this club.”
With the poor domestic form that city rivals Real Madrid have been in, second place in La Liga, and automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League group stages, is well within Atletico’s grasp this season.
By keeping Falcao until the summer before cashing in on him, plus the guaranteed Champions League money would allow Atletico to pay of most of its €115 million debt to the Spanish treasury for unpaid tax and social security debts.
Falcao has really developed into a world class player in 2012, scoring 49 goals in the calendar year, while leading Atletico to two cup victories. The Colombian proved decisive in both tournaments after scoring a brace in the Europa League final and a hat-trick in the European Super Cup final.