Just months after joining Monaco for €45 million from Atlético, Falcao has been offered to Real Madrid. The Colombian feels let down by the regime led by Russian multimillionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, not helped by his €14 million salary possibly being cut in half by the tax changes proposed by François Hollande's government.

After snapping up Falcao, Moutinho and James Rodríguez, Rybolovlev pulled the plug on any additions to this transfer spree in light of Ligue 1's determination to force Monaco's players to pay the top tax rate in France. At present, the club's foreign players benefit from the special tax-free conditions applicable in the Principality.

This is when Ranieri's side stopped splashing the cash, instead capturing Carvalho and Abidal on free transfers and securing loan deals for Fabinho and Sampdoria goalkeeper Romero.

Falcao feels he was recruited under false pretences, having signed a contract supposedly worth €5 million more than his next best offer and been assured that the club would be assembling a star-studded squad. With both of these pledges now up in the air, he wants to leave Monaco before the transfer window slams shut on 2nd September.

The first club Falcao was offered to was Real Madrid, which had sized him up when José Mourinho was in charge. However, although the dressing room would have welcomed him with open arms, 'Los Blancos' president Florentino Pérez said no, arguing that the Gareth Bale deal is too far down the line.

As it is, Mourinho could hold the key to Falcao's future. 'El Tigre' could be a good fall-back option if Chelsea fails to prise Wayne Rooney away from Manchester United, while the Red Devils could fancy the Colombian to replace the Englishman if he does leave.