Radamel Falcao is not one of the elite scorers in world soccer anymore. In less than two years, he went from being one of the most feared strikers to, when healthy, just another scrub on the Manchester United and Chelsea benches.
For several months, Falcao has exhibited a low level of football and an impressive goal drought, a far cry from the player who scored 70 goals in 91 games with Atletico Madrid between 2011 and 2013.
Falcao has scored only 18 goals in 61 matches for Monaco, Manchester United and Chelsea from 2013 to the present.
As if this were not enough, now he is injured again. That is why he was removed from the Colombian National Team for the World Cup qualifiers November 12 and November 17 against Chile and Argentina, respectively.
Obviously he can't play in Premier League either. Of the Injury, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said only that Falcao suffered a "muscular problem" that will sideline him for two or three weeks.
"It's an important injury. Not as important as the ones he has previously had. But one that will keep him out for a couple of weeks," Mourinho said.
It may have been the injury to his left knee in January 2014 that marked beginning of Falcao's difficulties.
That injury took him out of the World Cup 2014 and accelerated the interest of Monaco to transfer him.
Falcao came to Manchester United in August 2014, but with Louis Van Gaal as the coach he could do very little, he was sent to Chelsea, where he arrived in July.
The results in the 'Bleus' have not been the best and he has yet to start for Jose Mourinho's side, only appearing off the bench.
Supposedly in January or July 2016 he will move to Italy. Inter have shown interest provided that he will reduce his salary demands. AC Milan, where his compatriot Carlos Bacca plays, is one of the clubs that Falcao seems to fancy.
Falcao knows he needs to be active to be picked for Colombia's World Cup qualifiers and the Copa America Centenario next year.
For now, the question remains unanswered how his drop in performance occurred.
Some think it's his age, but Falcao is one year younger than Cristiano Ronaldo. Others point out that his left knee does not work as well as before the injury and others simply think that it is a matter of finding a coach that gives him some confidence, something that Van Gaal and Mourinho haven't offered him.
