Javier Mascherano has insisted that it is just "a matter of time" before Radamel Falcao returns to his best form, regardless of where he is playing his club football next season.
The Colombia international struggled to find his feet at Manchester United during a season-long loan spell at Old Trafford last time out.
Recent reports have linked the 29-year-old, who was prolific in spells at Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco, with a move to Premier League champions Chelsea this summer.
Mascherano remains convinced that Falcao is among the world's best strikers, regardless of his recent struggles.
"I have not only played against Radamel Falcao, but in the same team as him with River Plate, I know him very well," he is quoted as saying by FourFourTwo.
"Obviously, he is a player with a a very important role. He is still missing some continuity after a very serious injury. He tried his best to be able to play the World Cup but he could not.
"After this, the most important thing is to play a lot of minutes and, for different circumstances, he could not do that at his club even though Falcao has demonstrated that he is one of the best you can find at a worldwide level. It is a matter of time. I have no doubt that at some point, the best Falcao will show."
Mascherano will come up against Falcao when Argentina take on Colombia in the quarter-finals of the Copa America in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Daniel Lewis
