Former Colombia international Faustino Asprilla claims his compatriot Radamel Falcao was brainwashed by Real Madrid before joining Manchester United.
Falcao was left out of the United squad that lost to Southampton last weekend and his agent Jorge Mendes has since claimed he will be moving to another big club this summer, if not in the January transfer window.
The 28-year-old has long been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu since his days with cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid, but in summer 2013 a move to Monaco subsequently transpired where, six months down the line, he picked up a season-ending knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup in Brazil.
Nonetheless, rumours of a transfer to Madrid continued to surface and it was suggested Los Blancos might make a move last summer. Instead, Falco went to Old Trafford on loan, where he has struggled for much of the season through injury.
Questioned whether Falcao really wanted to join the Red Devils or Madrid, former Newcastle United man Asprilla [pictured, left] was resolute in his opinion.
“I don’t speak to Falcao about transfers but I think he was waiting until the very last minute for Real Madrid because [President] Florentino Perez made him that promise,” he told IB Times.
“He felt betrayed by them because for two years they tried to brainwash him. Then, at the last minute, the chance came to join United and everybody wants to play for a club like that.
“I think with [United boss] Louis van Gaal even Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would be in doubt because it’s inexplicable having Falcao then sending him to the stands.
“We are talking about one of the best strikers in the world. Just over a year ago he was fighting for the Ballon d'Or,” he argued.
