Finally, Falcao unveiled on £280,000-a-week deal as Manchester United break £160m barrier

Manchester United have shown their financial muscle by completing a stunning deadline-day deal for Radamel Falcao after moneybags neighbours City were put off by the staggering cost.

Monaco’s Colombia striker arrived on a private jet to tie up a season-long loan to Old Trafford for a fee of £6million, with an option to buy him next summer for a further £46m.

Falcao told www.manutd.com: ‘I am delighted to be joining Manchester United on loan this season. Manchester United is the biggest club in the world and is clearly determined to get back to the top.

‘I am looking forward to working with Louis van Gaal and contributing to the team’s success at this very exciting period in the club’s history.’

It is understood United persuaded Falcao to accept the same sum they are paying the Argentina midfielder, which is slightly less than the £300,000 a week earned by captain Wayne Rooney. United also tied up the £14m signing of Ajax midfielder Daley Blind, who joins Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo at Old Trafford after a summer that has seen them spend around £160million.

Blind, 24, said: ‘It is a real honour to sign for Manchester United. Louis van Gaal is a tremendously talented coach, I have worked with him at Ajax and also for Holland and I cannot wait to work with him at the biggest club in the world.’

Falcao vs Van Persie vs Rooney 

                             Falcao Rooney Van Persie

Games Played         88         93            99

Minutes Played     7366     7576        8177

Goals                        63         57           68

Con Rate %             25.2      20.8        22.1

Mins/Goal              116.9    132.9      120.3

Assists                       4         24            21

Chances Created    73       158          180

UNITED’S SUMMER BY NUMBERS 

£147.1m – Amount spent by United in the summer transfer window, more than any other team in the country

200 – Goals scored by Falcao during his club career

£10m – United’s net spend this summer is around £10million higher than Jose Mourinho’s entire net spend in his two spells at Chelsea

7 – United have signed seven players this summer, the most in one window since the summer of 2007

0.66 – Falcao’s goals per game rate in his club career, much better than the PL’s top strikers.

Aguero 0.48, Van Persie 0.47, Rooney 0.45, Dzeko 0.44, Giroud 0.42, Sturridge 0.39, Balotelli 0.39, Costa 0.38

Van Gaal welcomed a player he used on the left side of Holland’s defence at the World Cup but is more likely to deploy as a holding midfielder at United.

‘I am delighted Daley has signed for the club,’ said Van Gaal. ‘He is a very intelligent and versatile footballer who can play in many positions. Daley is a great reader of the game and he has played under my philosophy over a number of years.’

Falcao’s arrival meant striker Danny Welbeck was allowed to join rivals Arsenal in a £16m deal, while Javier Hernandez went to Real Madrid on a season-long loan, with an option for a £16m permanent move.