Football
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Radamel Falcao leaves Manchester United, returns to Monaco

Radamel Falcao has returned to Monaco after Manchester United decided not to renew his one-year loan or try to sign him on a permanent deal Sunday.

The Colombian was omitted from the squad for the 0-0 draw at Hull after a meeting between the club and his advisors, when United said Falcao had no future at Old Trafford.

Falcao joined United on loan from Monaco on the final day of the summer transfer window, in a £6 million move that gave the former Premier League champions the option to purchase him for a further £43 million.

But he only scored four times in 29 games for United, failing to find the net in his final 13 appearances, and growing frustrated at his bit-part role.

"Falcao is a top professional and a good human being. On behalf of myself and everyone at the club I would like to wish him well for the future," Louis van Gaal told MUFC.com on Sunday.

Falcao, who is paid £265,000 a week, had struck 155 times in 200 games for Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco but struggled to recapture the form he displayed before suffering a cruciate knee ligament in January 2014.

His exit means United are more likely to look for another forward in the summer transfer market.

Manager Louis van Gaal will hold a series of meetings in which the futures of some of his players will be determined but the Dutchman had refused to discuss Falcao immediately following the goalless draw at Hull, which sent the Tigers down to the Championship.

Van Gaal had said: "I don't say if Falcao will go today. Today is about the game and not the decisions we have made. You will hear it at the proper time and when Manchester United want.''

Several more players could follow out of the exit door at United. Doubts remain over Anders Lindegaard, Jonny Evans, Rafael, Angel Di Maria, Adnan Januzaj, Robin van Persie, Nani and Javier Hernandez.

Van Gaal will look to clear out a few of those players to make way for new signings, but the former Barcelona coach knows he may not get his own way.

"The transfer period is a process. I know which players have to go and which have to come but you never know if they go or if they come because it will depend on a lot of aspects,'' he said.

Van Gaal will fly to his villa in Portugal this week after a draining year. The 63-year-old only had a two-day break between the end of the World Cup and taking charge of United. He is looking forward to a holiday but will have his phone close by his side.

"I go on holiday but I have contact with [executive vice-chairman] Ed Woodward every day as he is doing the negotiations,'' Van Gaal told MUTV. "It shall be a heavy [busy] holiday.''

Information from Press Association was used in this report.

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