ESPN FC’s Mark Donaldson and Craig Burley break down the latest transfer rumours involving Cristiano Ronaldo, Radamel Falcao and Antoine Griezmann.
ESPN FC’s Gab Marcotti reacts to reports that Radamel Falcao may make a move to Stamford Bridge this summer. With the Colombian’s large wages, the move may be a bit of a stretch for Chelsea.
ESPN FC’s Stewart Robson and Gab Marcotti discuss how Radamel Falcao would fit in at Chelsea after Manchester United opted not renew his one-year loan.
Jose Mourinho has indicated that he would welcome Radamel Falcao at Chelsea and said he has no plans to cash in on fellow Colombia international Juan Cuadrado.
Mourinho has already confirmed he is in the market for a striker following the departure of Didier Drogba and several reports in recent weeks have credited the club with an interest in Monaco striker Falcao.
The 29-year-old, who suffered a cruciate ligament injury in January last year, was unable to make an impact during a season-long loan spell at Manchester United last season but Mourinho said he would like to help the Colombia star recover his best form.
“If I can help Falcao reach his level again, I will do it,” he told DirecTV Sports in quotes translated by Sky Sports. “It hurts me that people in England think that the real Falcao is the one we saw at Manchester United.
“He played in Spain and Portugal and I know him very well because I was in Portugal and Spain. In Spain we were together when he was at Atletico and I was at Real and I know him very, very well … he is a great player.”
On whether a deal to sign the player is close, he said: “I have no idea. I don’t do the negotiations, I just tell my board, my club, the players that I am interested in, the price, what I like, and we will see what happens.
“But, whether at Chelsea or at another club, I would like very much for his guy to be able to show the English people what they don’t know about him.”
Radamel Falcao and Juan Cuadrado are currently with the Colombian national side for the Copa America.
Mourinho also said he has no intention of selling Cuadrado, who made limited impact at Chelsea following his move from Fiorentina in February.
The 27-year-old winger had been linked with a return to Serie A with Mourinho’s former club Inter Milan, but he said he is confident the winger will recover his best form and hopes he can enjoy a successful Copa America with Colombia.
“In the four or five months that he has been with us, he had to make an adaptation that is not easy,” he said. “And he became a [Premier League] champion, won a cup [Capital One Cup], and that will always be in his career.
“He has suffered, and that is normal — it is one thing to play in Italy and another to play in England — and it is not easy to arrive in January to a team that is winning and playing well, and adapt to a different system: Fiorentina played with five defenders, while we play with four.
“People haven’t yet seen Cuadrado. I saw him in Italy, at Udinese, when I was at Inter. I saw him play many times and he is a guy I have high hopes for for next season.
“I hope that at the Copa America he can boost his self-esteem, his ego, and find that joy of playing.”
Meanwhile, sources have told ESPN FC that Chelsea are tracking Charlie Austin, who is set to leave Queens Park Rangers this summer following their relegation.
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