Manchester United agreed to ‘ghost game’ over Radamel Falcao loan from Monaco before deal for flop striker
Premier League club agreed to pay a £3.5million fee for the match that never took place
MANCHESTER United agreed to pay a £3.5million fee for a 'ghost friendly' that never took place, after signing Radamel Falcao on loan.
The Colombian was a shock deadline day signing from Monaco in September 2014.
Louis Van Gaal expected the South American to make a massive impact and he was landed on a loan deal with a view to a potential £43.5m permanent move.
As part of the initial agreement with Monaco, according to the latest documents released by Football Leaks, United paid around £4.8m as a loan fee.
And they also promised to pay a further £3.2m as a bonus if United finished in the top four.
Under French Ligue 1 rules, that bonus clause was illegal, but United have not broken any Fifa or Uefa rules.
So the official copy of the agreement, lodged in both countries, said United would pay Monaco the bonus cash to play a post-season friendly - if they finished in the top four.
And United also agreed to make the payment even if the game was not played.
Falcao, understood to have been paid £265,000 per week, scored just four goals in 29 appearances for United.
Despite that form, he subsequently joined Chelsea on loan the following summer, managing a single goal in just 12 outings.
It is not known what clauses were agreed in the Chelsea contract.
Both Monaco and United declined to comment to French outfit MediaPart over the contract.
