beIN SPORTS

By Phil Kitromilides (@PhilKitro)

The taxi driver cursed wildly and not for the first time. However the cause of his ire was not the increasingly wild traffic we were encountering in one of the major cities on Colombia's Caribbean coast but rather the fate of one of their local heroes.

Radamel Falcao comes from this part of the country, yet it is not just the Caribbean where he is revered.

From Cartagena to Pasto, Medellin to Bogota, the striker is universally loved, as well as being omnipresent.

Mobile phones, razors and banks are just some of the endorsements that the world's fifth highest paid footballer has picked up in his home country meaning that you see a lot of Falcao if you are in Colombia, more so it would see than if you are in Manchester.

It was precisely his situation in the north of England which so exasperated my taxi driver, who asked me the question that many have been posing; why sign Falcao if he is not going to play?

There are of course plenty of commercial reasons to be associated with the biggest star in South America's second most populous country, but the footballing logic of bringing a goalscorer of his repute to Old Trafford then starting him in only 12 times in the Premier League remains harder to comprehend.

Yet even his most ardent supporters (i.e. almost every Colombian) would admit that El Tigre has failed to shine when given a chance in the English top flight. Four goals in 19 league appearances (including as a substitute) is a paltry return for a striker of his calibre and it would appear that neither the Premier League nor United's style suit the man from Santa Marta.

Three goals in Colombia's two games over the international break showed Falcao has not forgotten his goal scoring touch despite his peripheral presence at Old Trafford although those matches were admittedly against considerably weaker opposition in Bahrain and Kuwait. 

His penalty against the latter drew him level with Arnoldo Iguaran as Los Cafeteros' all time leading goal scorer with 24 international strikes, and there is no question that he will set the bar extremely high for future Colombian forwards to reach by the time he retires. Yet this underwhelming season in England, coupled with an injury plagued spell in France and his absence at last year's World Cup with a knee problem means that Falcao's stock outside his home country has fallen considerably. 

Perhaps this summer's Copa America therefore comes at the perfect time for El Tigre to rediscover his roar, and remind the world of his talent. Colombia will come into the tournament as one of the favorites given their excellent showing in Brazil last year, with their historic run to the quarter finals achieved without their biggest star.

With Falcao fit and eager to banish a difficult couple of seasons, not to mention potentially secure a high profile summer move, Colombia will be hoping the nation's superstar can help them to continental glory in Chile.

Maybe then my Caribbean taxi driver will be able to restrict his curses solely for other road users.