Colombian soccer star Radamel Falcao will stay in Atletico Madrid colors for a friendly match with Bogota’s Millonarios F.C., squashing rumors that he would don the jersey of his former team.
In a press conference from the nation’s capital, Clemente Villaverde, manager of the Europa League champions, confirmed that the Colombian striker will “defend the Atletico Madrid colors.”
Falcao played for the Millonarios youth team before leaving to play professionally in Argentina. He is excited to be competing against his former team.
“For the first time, I come to my country’s club where I was born to face a team that wants a lot,” Falcao said in the press conference.
Falcao joins his fellow countryman and teammate, defender Luis Amaranto Perea in the friendly match. The two Colombian players “fill the country with pride” according to Millonario player Pedro Franco, who will be tasked with marking Falcao on May 16.
The friendly match is expected to generate $100,000 for the Bogota team.
“El Tigre” as Falcao is commonly known, fared well in his Spanish league debut this year, scoring 35 goals. While several teams have expressed interest in the 26-year-old striker, Falcao denied rumors that he would leave his Iberian club Monday.