Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao insists he never sought a move from Atletico Madrid last year.

His displays earned him a mega-money move to French giants Monaco in 2013 - but Falcao would have rather have gone elsewhere.

The striker, who left Monaco on a season-long loan to join Manchester United in September, said: "I knew it was very difficult to stay [at Atleti] because of the [bad] economic times they faced.

"There was always talk that they had to sell players at the end of each season, so I quickly realised this. After just four months, I knew I wouldn't be there for long.

"No footballer is a master of his fate. Sometimes I laugh when people ask me why I didn't go 'here' or 'there', as if a player decides where to work.

"I would say to some journalists, 'why don't you work for CNN or ESPN?' It's the same in football.

"Very rarely do you have the choice of going to one team or another.

"I've been in many situations where I couldn't get what I wanted. I'd want to go somewhere and eventually be forced to join someone else.

"I enjoyed everywhere I've been in each stage of my life. Beyond that, I've made something of my career.

"Perhaps the greatest moments of my career were in Europe with both Porto and Atletico Madrid. I'm very proud of everything I achieved with them."