Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has warned new colleague Radamel Falcao that he faces a fight for a starting place.
United pulled off the most eye-catching transfer of deadline day when they signed the Colombia forward on loan from Monaco for £6 million. Despite the sale of Danny Welbeck to Arsenal, United still have some formidable options in attack, including Van Persie and Wayne Rooney.
For that reason, the Dutch striker believes the club's new Colombian import will need to work hard to earn his place in manager Louis van Gaal's starting XI.
"I welcome his arrival, he makes us better," van Persie told Fox Sports NL. "At a top club you should always go for the best, which also fits my philosophy. Falcao must fight for his place, as I also have to. We must duke with Wayne Rooney and James Wilson to see who is playing."
Some speculated United signed Falcao as a replacement for van Persie, who was rumored to require knee surgery. Van Persie dismissed that speculation, adding: "I am impressed that people can pick up the imagination to invent something like that. I do not know where it comes from and can say with my hand on my heart that I won't be in a hospital to have the operation."
United, meanwhile, confirmed on Wednesday that their 21-year-old right back Guillermo Varela has joined Real Madrid on loan until the end of the season. David Moyes made Varela his first signing as United boss, but the defender is yet to play for the Red Devils and will feature in Madrid's reserve team.
Earlier on Wednesday, Falcao's father has revealed Real Madrid were unwilling to make a financial effort to sign his son.
"The deal with Real Madrid did not happen because if you have money and you go to the market to buy a shirt or a pair of trousers, you have to decide whether to buy it or not," Falcao's father Radamel Garcia said to Colombian radio station LA FM. Real Madrid chose not to. I don't know, I have the feeling they wanted the player for free with a number of conditions.
He added: "In any case, they bought the trousers and shirt they wanted and they considered that to be better. We have to accept it."
Despite being turned down by Real, the 28-year-old forward had plenty of offers on the table, according to his father.
"The clubs that showed an interest in him were Juventus, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal at the last minute," Garcia said. "Fortunately, he has arrived to Manchester United, a great club. Thank God everything came through with United."
Garcia added: "Radamel is a person who has given a lot in Europe and has always deserved the best for all the effort, all the sacrifices he has made during his football career. United is the most important team in England and one of the most powerful from an economic standpoint.
"Now it's his (Falcao's) turn to give his best, to be ready and continue to win titles."
