Colombian love: Falcao can no longer wait for Barcelona Israel today

Radamel Falcao may return to the squad of Rayo Vallecano, who will host Barcelona tonight in the 11th round.

At the end of the week he came in as a substitute towards the end in a 3: 2 loss to Betis, a week earlier against Elche he is not a partner at all because he came back late from the national team backlog, but the enthusiasm for his presence is still felt in every corner around Viex Stadium.

Professionally, the 35-year-old Colombian has already contributed three goals in his first three games, all of which the newcomer has won, but his impact on the small club is far greater than one goal or another.

Not bad players at all have gone through Rayo Vallecano over the years.

In our plays we remember the era of dew, and in more distant provinces the Mexican Hugo Sanchez is remembered at the end of his career, the Austrian Tony Polster and also Diego Costa before he made the big break.

As in 1997

Falcao, from an objective point of view, is probably the greatest player to have landed at a club from the suburbs of Madrid;

He is also the all-time leading scorer of the Colombian national team, as well as a leading striker at River Plate, Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco, who has also played for Manchester United, Chelsea and Glatsray, among others.

And when you take that resume, the striker's desire to rebuild his career in the league where he took off to great heights, and the fact that Madrid has a community of about 60,000 enthusiastic Colombians, you get a madness like no other on this side of town for a very long time.

Radamel Falcao.

Probably the biggest player to land in a club from the suburbs of Madrid, Photo: Getty Images

"When Falcao signed with us, Joseph Federroll talked about his vision on the popular show 'El Cheringito,'" one of the team's fans told EL PAIS, "it never happens, and these little things explain how huge Falcao's story is here." .

The thing is, this story is hardly told.

Falcao started this season at Glatsray, where he has scored 19 goals in 33 league games in the last two years, as Rayo is considering joining him but is undecided due to his age, fitness and injury history.

Eventually, when he left the Turkish team, the newcomer decided to go for the Colombian, and on September 4, the deal was closed.

Falcao in Columbia uniform.

Facing Qatar,

Falcao got a team that would give him minutes in a big league he knows very well and in which he can rehabilitate his position ahead of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, while Rayo got a star who even if he does not score or play, will add a lot of public interest.

Indeed, with more than 30 million followers on social media, Falcao drew crowds to the Wax Stadium, especially Colombians, as evidenced by his shirt snatched from the shelves of the official store.

The city elders compare this to the signing of Hugo Sanchez in 1997, but then there were no social networks and the enthusiasm was only local.

This time the whole world is excited about the comeback of the Colombian and that of Rayo.

Will make history?

With the No. 3 shirt on his back, in memory of his father, Falcao is just one part of the opening of the great season of the newcomer who has been swinging between the leagues for some time.

"The other players respect him very much and his presence gives them a boost," said young coach Andoni Areola, who has put together a talented and diverse squad that has already won five games and will reach tonight's meeting against Barça as it is ranked above them in the table.

Barcelona celebrates.

Even tonight in front of Rayo ?, Photo: Reuters

For Falcao, this game allows for a little personal history.

He has met the Catalans four times in his career, always when he played for Atletico, and never managed to win.

Maybe this time, in Rayo's uniform, he will be able to write another episode in his wonderful story, and at the same time put an end to Ronald Koeman's less successful episode on the Barcelona bench.