Manchester United made another big move before the summer transfer window closes, acquiring Radamel Falcao on a one-year loan deal with AS Monaco, the Red Devils announced on Tuesday.
Financial terms of the loan agreement were not disclosed, but the Daily Mail, citing sources close to the situation, reported that Manchester United got Falcao for £12 million with an option to buy him completely next season.
Falcao, who will reportedly earn £300,000 in salary per week during his one-season stay at the Old Trafford, expressed excitement over his move to Manchester United, saying that he is looking forward to helping the club return on top of the Barclays Premier League.
"I am delighted to be joining Manchester United on loan this season," Falcao said via the club's official website. "Manchester United is the biggest club in the world and is clearly determined to get back to the top. I am looking forward to working with Louis van Gaal and contributing to the team's success at this very exciting period in the club's history."
Falcao, who is considered as one of the best strikers in the world, scored just nine goals in 17 league games for AS Monaco last year as his season was cut short after sustaining a torn ACL in his left knee.
The 28-year-old striker also missed Colombia's campaign in the 2014 FIFA World Cup after failing to recover in time for the tournament before making his return to Monaco last month, scoring two goals in three league games.
Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal is confident that the Colombian striker will play a key role in their bid to bounce back from a seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season -- just a year after topping the league under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
"I am delighted Radamel has joined us on loan this season. He is one of the most prolific goalscorers in the game," Van Gaal said. "His appearance-to-goal ratio speaks for itself and, when a player of this caliber becomes available, it is an opportunity not to be missed."
Aside from Falcao, Manchester United also announced the acquisition of Daley Blind, which came a week after the Red Devils signed Angel Di Maria via a lucrative £60-million transfer agreement with Real Madrid.
But to balance their finances, Manchester United also sent Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez on a one-year loan deal with Real Madrid -- an agreement that was officially announced by the Spanish club on Monday.
Hernandez, who was overshadowed by fellow strikers Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie last season, said that he is excited to join Real Madrid.
"I'm delighted and completely grateful to the whole institution of Real Madrid for having made the effort and I'll give it my all," Hernandez said via Real Madrid FC's official website. "There is no player in the world who can say they wouldn't like to wear this shirt or be at this club. It would be a big lie. For me it is a dream come true."
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