Manchester United 'paid AS Monaco £3.5m for phantom friendly’ as part of Radamel Falcao deal

Manchester United have been caught up in the latest round of revelations by Football Leaks, with the signing of Radamel Falcao from AS Monaco coming under scrutiny.

It is alleged that United agreed to play a ‘phantom’ friendly against the French club to make up part of the £8.91million loan fee when Falcao moved to Old Trafford in 2014.

French website Mediapart claim United wanted to pay £3.56m as an add-on if they secured a top-four Premier League finish under then-manager Louis van Gaal that season.

Such deals are not permitted in French football, so it is claimed United agreed to a friendly against Monaco in July 2015 if they finished in the top four.

United reportedly signed two contracts - one covering a £5.3m loan fee, and another in which they agreed to pay £4.01m for the friendly.

In addition, United would reportedly be liable for a £3.56m payment if the match was cancelled.

Falcao endured a miserable time at United, scoring four goals in 29 appearances, but Van Gaal still secured Champions League qualification with a top-four finish.

Yet United did not go through with the friendly, with the club citing the summer tour to the US as the reason for cancellation.

According to Football Leaks, Monaco then submitted them with a bill of £3.56m.

United declined to comment on the claims.

Standard Sport has approached Monaco for comment. The club’s response to Mediapart regarding the allegations was that their contracts “all comply with the applicable law”.