Falcao has to stay for La Liga to be competitive

MONACO – AUGUST 31: Falcao of Atletico Madrid celebrates following the UEFA Super Cup match between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid at Louis II Stadium on August 31, 2012 in Monaco, Monaco.

The success of Atletico Madrid is obviously due to a certain Radamel Falcao. A natural poacher along with the likes of Mario Gomez and Edinson Cavani, he has scored goals aplenty, and Atletico Madrid are now in the title race along with Barcelona. Their style of play suits him to a T. Madrid play a counter-attacking brand football which he relishes. His team mates include the playmaker Ever Banega, striker Adrian Lopez and on-loan goal-keeper Thibault Courtois from Chelsea.

He used to play for River Plate in Argentina before moving to Europe with FC Porto. He won the League, Cup and Europa League with F.C Porto. Andre Vilas Boas’s 4-3-3 where he played the lone striker along with the likes of Zenit striker Hulk suited his game.

His goal-scoring caught the eye of many top European clubs, such as Chelsea and Juventus, but he moved to Atletico Madrid for 35 million Euros which compensated the departure of Sergio Aguero to Manchester City. He immediately settled into the La Liga and this season, he appears to be entering the prime of his career, scoring goals for fun.

MADRID, SPAIN – JANUARY 13: Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid reacts during the Copa del Rey quarter final first leg match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 13, 2011 in Madrid, Spain.

But this is where teams like Atletico have faltered. They have the means to mount a title challenge, but the team stands out from the rest when Falcao plays for them. There is a reason why La Liga is a two-horse race between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Pretty much all the teams in La Liga are in debt. Even the television broadcast fees won’t be enough as 90% of the money is shared between Real Madrid and Barca. The other 18 teams fight for the other 10%.

This is why they have to sell their best players even when they are trying to construct a title-winning side. This season, Malaga have sold Santi Cazorla to Arsenal for a paltry 16 million and Atletico Bilbao sold Javi Martinez to Bayern Munich for 40 million (Bilbao might not buy players unless they are Basque-based). Atletico Madrid must avoid that happening to Falcao.

Unfortunately the January transfer window is edging closer and only one team has the means and the quality to offer to Falcao.

Chelsea.

MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 15: Fernando Torres of Atletico Madrid celebrates after scoring a goal against Levante during the Primera Liga match at the Vicente Calderon stadium on April 15, 2007 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid, with Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema, might not go after him. Chelsea need him as they have only two front-line strikers in Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge, both of whom are not good enough when compared to the midfield of Oscar, Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Frank Lampard. Falcao might leave the men in Red and White and jump ship to the Blues.

If Barcelona lose to Real Madrid and Atletico beat Malaga this weekend, they will jump to pole position with 19 out of a possible 21 points. As they don’t face Barcelona until December the 16th, they have time to consolidate their position at the top of La Liga. But if Falcao leaves, the whole scenario changes and La Liga will return to the same old two-horse race that we have become accustomed to over the past seasons.

In short, not just Atletico, but the whole of La Liga must hope that Falcao stays and Atletico Madrid challenge the Big Two and attempt win the league.