Colombian Man Utd ace proud of his Yorkshire roots... and his Selebian great-grandad!
Top Manchester United star Radamel Falcao a local lad of Selebian heritage, it has been revealed!
Selby
With a name like Falcao he might not sound much like your typical Tyke, but the Colombian international is said to be very proud of his Yorkshire roots and his great-grandad – an accountant from Burn!
The star striker’s local links were described by his father during a revealing interview about his son’s career, past and family, published today in the Daily Mail (so it must be true -ed).
Currently on loan from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco to Premier League titans Manchester United, the 28-year-old striker was born in the Colombian town of Santa Marta, on the edge of the Caribbean Sea. But you don't have to delve too far into the footballer’s family tree before you find Yorkshire blood.
George King, Falcao’s great-grandfather, left his Burn home in 1932. He was a twentysomething accountant with a pregnant wife and desperate to flee a country in the grip of the Great Depression.
He took a new job as an accountant in the north of Colombia where he and his wife were to start their new life. The couple’s new start was short-lived however ending in tragedy when George’s wife died whilst giving birth.
Some time later Geoge fell in love with a Colombian girl by the name of Juliana. Together they would have five children including Falcao’s grandmother.
Sadly, George met a sticky end when he was murdered by thieves who stole what remained of his employer’s money after the Yorkshireman was tasked with liquidating the assets of the company as it wound down.