Javi Garcia talks up Man City move for Falcao

As Europe’s top clubs get set for a battle to land Radamel Falcao, Javi Garcia says he would love to see him at Manchester City.

The English Premier League champions are just one of the sides who have been linked with the £46-million-rated (Dh271m) Colombian striker.

Boss Roberto Mancini watched Falcao in Atletico Madrid’s last La Liga game, a 2-1 win over Malaga where he scored one and played a part in an own-goal winner.

And, having witnessed his ability at close quarters when Falcao played for Porto and Garcia was at Portuguese rivals Benfica, the City midfielder has no doubt the frontman would flourish in England.

“He’s a great player and he can play in any league that he wants at the moment,” said Garcia, who was in Abu Dhabi yesterday at the Manchester City School of Football at Zayed Sports City, and a special signing for hundreds of fans at the CityStore at Marina Mall.

“Falcao has been fantastic. He is scoring a lot of goals in La Liga now and I already know him from Portugal where he did the same.

“I would rather play with him than against him. I faced him for Benfica against Porto when we were both playing in Portugal so I know what he can do. I’d be happy to have him in my team.”

Mancini has made no secret of his desire to bring in more top-quality players to help City build on their achievements in the past two seasons, where they have won the FA Cup and then the Premier League.

And despite possessing a frontline of Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko at the Etihad Stadium, the prolific form of Falcao has attracted the attention of the Italian as well as Real Madrid and notably Chelsea.

Their owner Roman Abramovich reportedly wants the striker – who scored both goals in Colombia’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Paraguay on Sunday – as his club’s next big-money buy in January.

Atletico have admitted the sale of their prize asset would help ease their debt problems. Neighbours Real are also keen, but coach Jose Mourinho knows that an approach would be controversial.

He said: “Falcao is a fundamental player for our rivals, just like Kun Aguero was. There is a pact of non-aggression between Real Madrid and Atletico, so I think Falcao is forbidden fruit.

“He is a fantastic player and I have a feeling he is a person of the highest level, and I am very happy he is having success at Atletico.”

 

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