Radamel Falcao hopes Atletico Madrid win the Champions League later this
month - even if that means upsetting his friend Cristiano Ronaldo.
Falcao,
who left Atletico after two seasons in Spain to join Monaco last
summer, is sidelined after suffering a serious knee injury in January,
but will be an interested spectator as the Rojiblancos meet Real Madrid
in the European showpiece in Lisbon on May 24.
"The two teams are even and have the same chances of winning the final," the Colombian told Goal at a launch event for the new PUMA Tricks boot. "It will be a great game. There was already a derby last year in the Copa del Rey final and Atletico won.
"That
shows that finals are different. I would like Atletico to win, of
course. I have a great fondness for the club, for everything I
experienced there, for my team-mates – and I will be supporting them.
"Cristiano knows what Atletico means to me. But I haven’t spoken about the final with him."
Despite
his injury, Falcao was named in Colombia's provisional squad for the
World Cup by coach Jose Pekerman and says he is hopeful of being fit in
time to play a part in the competition next month.
"I feel really
good," he said. "I’m progressing very quickly – and I’m really happy
about that. In the next few weeks we’ll see what shape I’m in and we’ll
make a definitive decision on whether it’s convenient or not for me to
go to the World Cup.
"The World Cup is my engine and what keeps me going every day in my recovery. It has been one of my objectives this whole time.
"With
the coach we have spoken about everything, but he has been very prudent
as well in order to avoid putting me under pressure. He has said all
along that the most important thing is the player’s health. Everything
else comes after that.
"They are situations he knows how to
control and he will make the decision when the moment arrives. It will
all depend on how I am physically."