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EXCLUSIVE: Tottenham And Aston Villa Target Radamel Falcao Learning The Language In Preparation For A Move To England, Reveals Father - Goal.com
I think he'd do well in the Prem, interesting as well that he wants to come to England as his first choice.
Colombian striker dreams of playing in the Premier League...
By Victor Vago
May 6, 2010 3:00:00 PM
Porto's £15 million-rated striker Radamel Falcao is dreaming of a move to England and welcomes the interest of Premier League clubs including Tottenham and Aston Villa, according to his father.
The 24-year-old Colombian international, who is his club's top scorer this season with 31 goals, has an ambition to play in the English top flight and his father, Radamel Garcia, told Goal.com UK he is already learning the language to enhance his chances.
One of the hottest properties in European football, Falcao has attracted the attention of various clubs around Europe but it is with English football that his hopes rest. So much so that he would even consider joining a club that is not in the Champions League.
Both Harry Redknapp's Tottenham side — who this week sealed qualification for Europe's premier competition — and Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa have been linked with moves for the player in recent months. Liverpool also reportedly tried to sign Falcao last summer, and his father admits the player will consider all offers made to him.
“All his life he has wanted to play in English football," Garcia told Goal.com UK.
"I’ve heard and read that there are English clubs interested, but I don’t know if it’s true. He’s very attracted by the idea of playing in English football.
“A footballer always wants to go to the best team. It depends on the possibilities. He will listen to the best offer and see what suits him best.
"He also finds the Italian and Spanish leagues attractive. It depends on the club. But he hopes it’s in English football.
“If it’s a team in the Champions League he’ll play in the Champions League, if it’s one that’s not in the Champions League he can play there. It depends which club gives him the best chance to play in English football.
“I don’t know if there’s been any contact from clubs. I only know from what I’ve seen in Portuguese and English newspapers, but nothing concrete has come out yet."
Despite the lack of official contact from interested parties, Falcao has already begun preparing for a move to England, doing all he can to ensure he adapts to his potential new surroundings as quickly as possible.
“He speaks some English. He’s been learning it for five or six years," Garcia revealed.
"In Portugal he has English classes every afternoon. He’s preparing for the possibility of going to England.
“He watches English football on TV a lot. He watches all the matches. He likes Wayne Rooney a lot and liked Thierry Henry when he was there."
Garcia himself was also a professional footballer in Colombia. His son, who is named after Brazilian legend Falcao, gave notice of his own talent in 2008, as he starred for River Plate by leading the Argentinian club to the Clausura championship with 19 goals.
In total he scored 34 goals in 88 appearances for River, before joining Porto in the summer of 2009. Despite a disappointing campaign for the traditional Portuguese powerhouses — which has seen both Benfica and Braga muscle them out of the title race — Garcia admits his son has been well looked-after at Estadio do Dragao.
"He’s treated very well at Porto, they are marvellous people, and it’s not a problem if he stays there," he said.
"The club will decide. If an offer comes in, finances can affect a lot of things. He has a four-year contract, but of course if they receive offers they have to decide, the club and him.”
“He’s not spoken to anyone in England for advice as far as I’m aware. But he’s always learning a lot and that helps him adapt to European football.
“He was young when he went to Buenos Aires, he was just 15, and it’s helped him to adapt quickly to football in different countries.
“Of course in England he would have to get used to a lot of things, the style of play. But he knows how to attack and how to move in different ways, so he can adapt to a different style.”
I think he'd do well in the Prem, interesting as well that he wants to come to England as his first choice.