Southampton Omission Raises Questions About Radamel Falcao's Future at Man Utd

OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER—There are serious doubts about whether Radamel Falcao will be at Manchester United next season. There have to be. Because if a player isn't one of the best 18 in the squad, why would you spend more than £40 million on him?

It doesn't add up. The Colombian striker was fit to play Southampton at Old Trafford on Sunday. Van Gaal said so. But he wasn't selected.

It's the fact there wasn't even a place for him on the bench that is most puzzling. As players return from injury, there will be fierce competition for places at Old Trafford. And Falcao, like everyone else, isn't guaranteed regular football. He can't expect to start every week.

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But a striker who has averaged a goal every other game throughout his career might at least expect a place on the bench. Van Gaal, though, chose 19-year-old James Wilson instead. There was also room among the substitutes for three centre-backs, Jonny Evans, Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair. But no place for Falcao, a player who was rated the fifth best in the world as recently as the 2012 Ballon d'Or voting.

Van Gaal insisted after the 1-0 defeat to Southampton that he needed three defenders on the bench because he didn't think Daley Blind or Luke Shaw, who have both just returned from injury, would last 90 minutes.

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Quizzed about why he picked Wilson, the Dutchman said he was a more natural replacement for Angel Di Maria, who was also making his comeback from injury. 

Van Gaal, clearly, feels they are all valid arguments. But the point still stands; £40 million strikers should always be good enough to get in the squad, regardless of the opposition, regardless of the situation.

As Van Gaal pointed out in his post-match press conference, we will never know whether Falcao might have made the difference between United losing and drawing against Southampton. But it is difficult to justify leaving a player with Falcao's ability out of the squad after a game when your team has failed to muster even a single shot on target.

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And so the question remains. Why would Van Gaal and Ed Woodward want to spend £40 million to make Falcao's loan move from Monaco permanent? Surely, for that amount of money, United would be able to find a striker who will play every week.

With Van Persie coming to the end of his career, Wayne Rooney playing in midfield, Wilson still lacking experience and Javier Hernandez likely to leave, Van Gaal will need to sign a striker in the summer.

But after leaving Falcao to watch from the stands against Southampton, there are now serious doubts about whether it'll be him. There is no other way for the United manager to spin it.

Quotes obtained first-hand.