MONACO boss Claudio Ranieri has revealed he was preparing to snap up Jackson Martinez from Porto before being offered the chance to sign Radamel Falcao by owner Dmitry Rybolovlev.
Ranieri was also keeping an eye on James Rodriguez, who did eventually sign for Monaco, but had wanted Martinez to boost his attacking options ahead of the club's return to Ligue 1.
But Ranieri couldn't believe his luck when Rybolovlev asked if he was interested in Falcao, who joined Monaco from Atletico Madrid for a fee in the region of £50m.
He told O Jogo: "I scouted both James Rodriguez and Jackson Martinez very carefully, when they were playing together for Porto.
"Then, one day, our chairman asked me if I were interested in Falcao.
"I told him I was, since I consider him a very good professional as well as a terrific player, and Rybolovlev brought him here."
There was speculation earlier in the summer that Falcao may want to leave Monaco, with the Colombian striker reportedly facing the prospect of tax issues eroding his £400,000-a-week wages.
But it seems the problems have been resolved, and Falcao has scored twice in four games for his new club, despite reports continuing to link him with a January return to Spain with Real Madrid.
Martinez, meanwhile, ended up staying at Porto despite the interest of Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs and recently spoke about a summer of speculation over his future.
He told O Jogo: "It was very complicated, but I did not take anything seriously on a personal level.
"I was only bothered by the many untrue reports, but I was always calm, knowing that everything would be alright."
On the subject of a new contract at Porto, Martinez claims he has an agreement in principle over an extension.
He added: "For now, I'm still at the club."
Source: Daily Express
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