Falcao: I'm Fit And Firing Again

United's new no.9 Radamel Falcao is delighted to be back on the global stage, just days after completing his deadline-day loan move from Monte Carlo to Manchester.

The Colombian striker missed this summer's World Cup finals through injury and could only look on as James Rodriguez - then his colleague at AS Monaco, since another big signing for Real Madrid - top scored for his country with six of their 12 goals.

Now his club career is settled for at least the rest of this season, Falcao is itching to make up for lost international time, starting with a Friday-night friendly against Brazil in Miami. It's also an opportunity for him to help Colombia avenge their 2-1 World Cup quarter-final defeat to the hosts.

"I'm very happy and excited to return to the team," said Falcao following his link-up with the Colombia squad in Florida.

"The hard times have made me grow as a human being and today I appreciate very much my life in football. I am very confident, I have scored goals again [for Monaco], and now I just want to play."

Reflecting on Monday's drama and how his immediate club future was resolved after midnight, courtesy of a deadline extension, Falcao admits he was tense as the minutes and hours passed.

"No one has the idea of the stress I experienced at the time," he told Colombian media. "The transfer almost wasn't achieved but thank God we had an additional hour and then it occurred."

Falcao was in Manchester for less than 24 hours before flying out to Miami but he saw enough to whet his appetite for starting work with United next week.

"The first impressions that I took made a great impact on me. Manchester United is a great institution that lacks nothing and I'm happy to have taken this step."