Radamel Falcao has revealed he was close to returning to River Plate during the January transfer window, while claiming the limit on foreign players scuppered the deal.
The Colombian has been linked to a Monumental comeback in recent weeks as he continues to be frozen out of the Chelsea squad.
But he ruled out a move to Argentina in the summer, adding that the time to make the transfer happen was at the start of the year.
"I wanted to come to River in January, but they did not have a foreign player spot open," he told Fox Sports.
Argentine clubs are limited to a total of four non-nationals in their first-team squad, spots already taken at River by Colombian Eder Alvarez Balanta and the Uruguayan trio Ivan Alonso, Camilo Mayada and Tabare Viudez.
"Now Monaco will be looking to go another way, inside European football.
"Right now my priorities are clear, I want to play every weekend because I am feeling good. I need to go somewhere I can play."
Falcao also spoke on his exclusion from Colombia's Copa America squad, and affirmed he hoped to play a big part in August's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
"Now is not the right time for me to be at the Copa because I am not playing," he admitted.
"I want to go to the Olympics, but I don't want people to misinterpret that, journalists or anyone.
"The decision will be made later and I will be the first one to know if I am in or not because I want to be a key part of the team, to contribute and not embarrass myself.
"If I see I can help and if I am fit and playing all the time it is obviously easier."...
- Goal