He was brilliant in 2012/13 season as third highest goalscorer - 28 goals in La Liga, but injuries really took their toll at Monaco. He had niggles here and there before his big knee injury in January - I wonder how that has affected him.
Incidentally, his reputation is going by the 2012/13 season - but interestingly Negredo scored 3 less in a worse team than Althletico as he was playing for Seville. Negredo had bright moments last year (against us unfortunately at the Etihad) but he really struggled in the Premier League - omitted from the Spain squad and now being sold.
What's more Negredo is about the same age but didn't have injury problems. Personally, I think it seems that 28/29 is too late to be coming to the Premier League - players are getting passed their peak, and the physical demands and pace of the Premier League makes it that bit harder to adapt for a 29 year old. In addition to recovering from an injury plagued season, he's got his work cut out.
What's more, Diego Costa also has a similar scoring record for Athletico last year, just like Falcao. Now Diego Costa is a monster of a player I think, but this is a guy in peak physical condition and only 25, just reaching his peak as a footballer. What's more, he's very tall and physical - he's perfectly made for the Premier League.
He has age on his side, he has peak physical condition on his side that helps him brush of defenders - I don't think Falcao has it quite so easy.
So in addition to paying £20 million for a loan, this is a very risky piece of business. He's in the same age bracket as Rooney and Van Persie - who have both declined - but he's got to adapt to the pace of the league at the same time.
This really isn't a transfer United had to make and I'm delighted Liverpool got Balotelli over Falcao. As my brother stated when we got Balotelli over Falcao, why would we opt for a 29 year old instead of a 24 year old whose arguably got his best years ahead of him?
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