Radamel Falcao claims Manchester United talks began 'some months' ago

Radamel Falcao has revealed he was in talks with Manchester United long before his deadline-day loan move to Old Trafford was sealed.

The striker had been rumoured to be joining Real Madrid from Ligue 1 side Monaco, with his father claiming the deal only fell through at the last minute because of disagreements over personal terms.

But Falcao, speaking on Wednesday during training ahead of Colombia's clash with Brazil in Miami, said he had been in discussions to join United for a long time.

"I am very proud to be at Manchester United," Falcao said. "We have been in talks with the club for some months and, in the end, we were able to reach an agreement with Monaco on the last day of the transfer deadline."

Falcao was eventually announced as a United player on Tuesday -- two-and-a-half hours after the 11pm BST transfer deadline -- following the Premier League's approval a six million-pound loan deal for the striker.

Manchester United pulled off a major coup by signing Falcao on deadline day.

On Tuesday, Falcao's father claimed that Madrid backed out of signing his son, accusing them of treating him like a pair of trousers they tried on but did not want to buy.

But Falcao has insisted he was excited to move to Old Trafford and is looking forward to linking up with fellow new arrival Angel Di Maria, who joined United from Madrid for a British record 59.7 million pounds.

"I haven't had the opportunity to speak with the players but, although they are stars, they are also footballers that play for the team to achieve the common goals of the group," Falcao said. "I am sure this will be the basis of our success and in any team that wants to achieve important things.

"Angel [Di Maria] is a fantastic player. I love the way he plays, I really do. I am very excited to be a teammate of his and also to be part of Manchester United."

Falcao has only just recovered after six months out with a serious knee injury, which also kept him out of Colombia's World Cup squad.

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