There is already a main course for the Rayo Vallecano preseason. Those of Andoni Iraola, whoThey will return to work on July 8will be measured 23 days later at Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United at Old Trafford. A game that will serve as a presentation for the new project of the Dutch coach, but that will also bring with it more than one intrahistory.
Rayo currently has in its squad two players who joined the military at Manchester United. Both raised a lot of expectation, but neither came to shine. Baby and Falcao They arrived at two different stages and under different circumstances, but both did so with the aim of making a place for themselves in one of the best teams in England.
In the case of the Cape Verdean international, His signing came just one summer after Cristiano Ronaldo left for Real Madrid. Called to be the successor of Madeira in English landsUnited paid 9 million euros to Vitoria de Guimaraes for getting their services.
However, Baby barely completed a season, in which he played 7 official matches. The winger of Portuguese origin would end up chaining three loans in a row to end up being transferred to Benfica in 2014. Despite this, Baby would leave Manchester United with two titlesafter conquering the Community Shield and the Premier Leaguein which Ferguson’s men prevailed with a 9-point advantage over Chelsea and City.
Falcao changed Monaco for United without success
A very different case is that of Radamel Falcao. The Colombian landed in Manchester as a consecrated star of world football and he did it with the aim of redeeming himself at a great club, thus leaving buried the serious knee injury he suffered at Monaco. The coffee tip arrived in the summer of 2014, in a transfer of more than 7.5 million euros. Falcao would not meet the expectations set either and left Manchester without pain or glory.
To his just 4 goals in 26 Premier games was added a disastrous season in the collective. Without European competition, United finished fourth in the Premier and was far from fighting for the two cup titles. The season came to an end, Falcao returned to Monaco and was loaned out to Chelsea again, which further increased the disappointment of the Old Trafford parish with the coffee striker.
After tiptoeing past Old Trafford, both players will have the chance to once again enjoy one of the most pedigree stadiums in European football. They will do so in a totally different context and with nothing at stake, but the friendly between United and Rayo will not be just another game for Baby and Falcao.
