Few former River players continue to generate as much excitement as Radamel Falcao does. Thirteen years have passed since the Colombian, who emerged from the River Plate hotbed, left the club to start his career in Europe, where he shone for a long time. His name flirts with River in every transfer market but there was never anything concrete. Even so, there are still many supporters who dream of being able to see him again with the red band on and shouting the goals hugging Marcelo Gallardo, whom he had as a partner in those tortuous months of 2009.
At 36 years old and defending the colors of the Rayo Vallecano of Spain (which coincidentally are the same and with the same arrangement as in River’s jacket), Radamel spoke exclusively with the program Jugate con Riverhosted by Lito Costa Febre and broadcast by Radio Top 104.9 and the networks of The Millionaire Pageto remember his time in Nuñez.
“Football happens very quickly and sometimes we players don’t stop to contemplate what has happened. You always want more and you’re always in the vortex of competing and being better, that’s why sometimes you don’t have the time to look and say ‘wow’ If at the River pension they told me that I was going to do this race, I would sign it immediately. it’s been wonderful“, declared the Tiger first, reviewing his career.
Responding to the club in which he felt most comfortable, he stated: “Perhaps it had more impact and I was more decisive at Atlético Madrid, but in Porto I also enjoyed it a lot because I came to a squad with a backbone that came from playing four or five years together, and I took the place of a historical figure like Lisandro López. There I had to dedicate myself exclusively to playing number nine, it was very easy to get into that structure that was already set up“.
Delving into his stage in the Millionaire, he began to point out several proper names that bring back good memories: “I remember a lot about Salas. He was a reference for all of us strikers, then Marcelo (Gallardo) taught me a lot. Between 10 and 9 there always had to be connection. Gallardo and also the Burrito Ortega had a lot of quality, they were a step above and they always understood what the situation required. In River I learned a lot, he finished training me. He gave me character as a person, I was trained as a man and as a professional“.
He also recalled the night in Madrid, which he lived as a fan even more in the distance: “On December 9 I had an event in Monaco with my wife. The event ended and we got to see the final there with friends, suffering. I went crazy with Juanfer’s goal, people didn’t understand why it was making so much noise, I had lost my composure“.
Finally, he praised Miguel Borja and placed a vote of confidence in him: “Borja is a pure nine, obviously he is going to need time to adjust to the River Plate style, but he is a nine goalscorer who is going to give the institution many goals. When you arrive at River you realize the DNA of the club and we hope that it quickly assimilates it. He has a goalscoring instinct and I am sure he will be successful“.
Could he have returned to River?
On the possibility of having returned to the club in the last time, he closed: “River sought me out, both the previous leadership and the current one. But they understood that it was at a premium moment in Europe and it was almost impossible. The current leadership made themselves available to me and made me understand that the doors of the club are open, I am grateful to everyone. River is everything to me, it’s my home. One of my sons wears the shirt all the time and he’s already from River. The club instilled in me the values that represent all riverplatenses“.
Falcao’s passage through River
El Tigre dazzled everyone from the beginning. Owner of a remarkable technique, seasoned and with an impressive scoring nose, it took very little to win the affection of all the fans. He debuted in 2005 with the Manto Sagrado and remained with the club until 2009 when he was sold to Porto. In total, he played 111 games with the River jersey in which he scored 45 goals, one more beautiful than the other, in addition to being crowned Clausura 2008 champion.
