Radamel Falcao Would Be Best Suited Playing for a European Powerhouse

Elite Colombian striker Radamel Falcao has recently been linked to French club Monaco, according to the Mirror's Richard Arrowsmith, but the 27-year-old star should be looking to take his talents to the next level after two impressive seasons at Atletico Madrid.

According to Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, Falcao is on his way to the principality (via Arrowsmith):

"

I'll tell you what I heard: Falcao is already 90 per cent Monegasque!

He will appear in Monte Carlo in a few days and officially become our player.

"

True or not, Falcao would be best suited lacing up his boots at Stamford Bridge or the Bernabeu instead of Stade Louis II in Monaco.

With 28 goals in La Liga play this season, Falcao trails only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the Primera Division lead. Clearly, Falcao is among the elite goalscorers in the game today.

He belongs on the biggest stage where he can shine the brightest.

Monaco is certainly a club on the rise after earning a berth in Ligue 1 next season, but football fans aren't going to mistake it for Chelsea, Real Madrid or even Atletico anytime soon.

While Falcao offers the potential to lift Monaco to the next level next season and in the years to come, he risks becoming a forgotten star. In the English Premier League and the Spanish Primera Division, Falcao would be going up against the world's top players and competing against the best.

As he gets set to enter his prime, where Falcao plays next will be critical to his legacy. 

Former FC Porto star Hulk recently made the jump to Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg, where it didn't take long at all for him to struggle and ultimately ask out. Of course, that's not to say that Falcao would experience the same fate in Monaco, but there are legitimate comparisons to be made. 

The stars belong on the brightest stage, where football fans can easily access them over the course of a season.

Falcao won't be revered as one of the greats when he retires if a majority of football fans aren't watching him in his prime. At Chelsea or Real, Falcao would be putting his talents on display for the world to see, and he'd be competing for European Cups and various other championships along the way.

If Falcao is going to continue to be mentioned with the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez, he'll need to be scoring goals and contending for titles at a European powerhouse.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.