Atletico Madrid bowed out of the Europa League despite defeating Rubin Kazan 1-0 in the Europa League. Star forward Radamel Falcao scored the lone goal for his club that was eliminated because Kazan outscored Madrid through two legs.
Despite the poor performance this year in the Europa League (Falcao and company won the last two tournaments), the Colombian superstar seems committed to remaining on the team for years to come. "I have a contract with Atletico for three more years, therefore, that's the best option," Falcao said during an interview when asked about transferring to another team. "As a group we have the clear goal of qualifying for the Champions League. If we maintain the same level that we have showed, we will achieve our objectives... We are not thinking about either [Real] Madrid or Barcelona, we are focusing on what we can give and on our objectives."
The striker added that he believed that Atletico was one of the best clubs in Europe and he was happy with his current position. "I have come to one of the biggest clubs in Spain, in a very important league that is more well-known on the world stage than any of my previous clubs," said Falcao. "It has allowed me to grow as a footballer, to become known in other parts of the world. It has been a very positive step."
His statements could potentially push suitors to seek out other options. Among the teams interested in buying Falcao are Manchester City and Chelsea. Rumors in December indicated that Falcao had signed a deal to transfer to Chelsea during the transfer window; however the striker later denied the rumor and stated that he was committed to Atletico.
Falcao's team is currently in second place in the Spanish league with 53 points; they are currently four points ahead of third place Real Madrid and 11 points ahead of fourth place Malaga. Falcao has scored 20 goals in 24 games this season.
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