Ranieri plays down Falcao disharmony



Radamel Falcao has cut short speculation he is angling for a move away from Monaco by insisting he is "very happy" in the principality and thanked the club for its patience as he recovers from injury.

Falcao, 27, has missed his club's last three league games with a thigh injury that Monaco insist he sustained on international duty, though the Colombian national team press officer claimed earlier this week the forward had suffered no such problem while playing for his country last month.

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Speculation had been mounting that the former Porto and Atletico Madrid striker was pushing for a January move, with Chelsea strongly linked to him.

However, at a public autograph session in Monaco on Thursday evening, Falcao declared he is delighted with the career move he made last summer, and confirmed the right thigh strain which will mean he also misses this Saturday's league game against Guingamp is real.

"I just wanted to say that I'm very happy at Monaco," the Colombian, who signed a five-year deal at the Stade Louis II, told media.

"My wife is very happy to live here. There are no problems with the coach. There are no problems with the doctor and there are no problems with the team.

"I just have a little problem with my thigh, but I'm going to play soon," the Colombian, who signed a five-year deal at the Stade Louis II, told media.

"I feel bad about the speculation surrounding me. I would first of all like to thank Claudio Ranieri for the patience he has shown with me. He's leaving me the time to come back. He's not putting pressure on me. He trusts me. I also want to thank the club, who have always behaved very well towards me. People near me know very well that I feel great in Monaco and that everything is going well with the club."

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