RANCAGUA, CHILE // Radamel Falcao on Saturday dismissed talk of a slump as he insisted his faltering year at Manchester United had made him a more “complete” footballer.
“Falcao was always there,” the new Colombian captain told a news conference when asked about a season on loan in which he scored just four Premier League goals in 29 appearances for Louis van Gaal’s side.
“It depends what criteria you are using,” Falcao said on the eve of Colombia’s opening Copa America match, against Venezuela on Sunday.
“People said I was not on the field and not scoring goals,” he said. “Falcao was always there.
“The speculation is not true. I am calm. Today Falcao is a more complete player.”
Read more:
– Falcao goes from Manchester United flop, Chelsea transfer target to Colombia captain for Copa America
– Radamel Falcao heroics, Chelsea triumph: The last five Europa League finals
Manchester United have sent Falcao back to Monaco, but British media say he could remain in the Premier League with Chelsea.
Falcao is looking to bounce back from his Manchester blues, and missing last year’s World Cup through injury, by impressing at the Copa America.
Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has kept faith with the striker by giving him the captain’s armband after the retirement of the veteran Mario Yepes.
“We must always trust him,” Pekerman said. “He has always overcome difficulties to have success.”
Colombia won the Copa in 2001 and after reaching the World Cup quarter-finals in Brazil behind James Rodriguez’s goals believe that success can be theirs again.
“It would be great to repeat the experience of what we did at the World Cup,” Falcao said.
“This team has grown a lot in recent years. It is a team that knows it can win and is the equal of any other side and has no complex against the big countries.”
Follow us on Twitter at our new home at NatSportUAE
TOP%2010%20MOST%20POLLUTED%20CITIES
%3Cp%3E1.%20Bhiwadi%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Ghaziabad%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Hotan%2C%20China%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Delhi%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Jaunpur%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Faisalabad%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20Noida%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Bahawalpur%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Peshawar%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Bagpat%2C%20India%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20IQAir%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Fixtures
Opening day Premier League fixtures for August 9-11
August 9
Liverpool v Norwich 11pm
August 10
West Ham v Man City 3.30pm
Bournemouth v Sheffield Utd 6pm
Burnley v Southampton 6pm
C Palace v Everton 6pm
Leicester v Wolves 6pm
Watford v Brighton 6pm
Tottenham v Aston Villa 8.30pm
August 11
Newcastle v Arsenal 5pm
Man United v Chelsea 7.30pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
