Monaco (AFP)

Monaco confirmed Monday the departure of its captain, Colombian international striker Radamel Falcao, for Turkish club Galatasaray Istanbul.

The 33-year-old striker, who was under contract with Monaco until June 2020, was allowed by the Principality's club to go to Istanbul on Sunday morning to pay for his medical visit and make his transfer a reality.

He has engaged for three seasons with Galatasaray for free. Various sources close to the file evokes a salary of 16 million euros over three years, including eight the first season.

"It's time for me to leave AS Monaco," said the player on the website of Monaco before mentioning the "very great joys, both sporting and personal" lived.

"Among the many memories that I will keep with me, will remain all these goals scored with the diagonal jersey and of course, the French Champion Trophy won after an extraordinary season," he said before "Thank everyone at the club, supporters and HSH Prince Albert, for the support and trust that has always been shown to me".

Falcao will play the Champions League with Galatasaray and will be opposed in Group A at Paris SG.

Falcao, who arrived in Monaco in June 2013 for 60 million euros, played 108 games and scored 65 goals in Ligue 1 with the team of the Principality, which he was captain.

After suffering a serious knee injury in January 2014 and after missing the World Cup in Brazil, he was loaned to Manchester United for the 2014-2015 season and to Chelsea for the 2015-2016 season. Without being able to win in the English championship.

On his return to the Principality, Monaco won the French league and played in the semifinals of the Champions League in 2017.

The amount of the transfer was the subject of long negotiations between the club of the Principality, who wanted to recover 7 million euros, and Galatasaray.

According to the daily L'Equipe, it would be, ultimately, much lower, but with a high percentage in case of resale of the player before the end of his contract.

Monaco, which did not wish to separate from its captain has folded the last day of the transfer window. To replace him, French international striker Wissam Ben Yedder was recruited for 40 million euros at Sevilla FC. Islam Slimani was loaned by the Leicester Englishmen, Jean-Kevin Augustin, by the Germans from Leipzig.

On the other hand, Monaco has recruited the wingers Gelson Martin (30 million euros at Atletico Madrid) and Henry Onyekuru (17 million euros to Everton). Finally Senegalese international Keita Baldé returned from his loan to Inter Milan.

© 2019 AFP