What now for Radamel Falcao? It was no surprise to see the 30-year-old ignored by Chelsea for their clash against Sunderland on Saturday but now he has been dropped by Colombia, too.
Falcao's form this season was never likely to result in a permanent deal at Stamford Bridge but Goal understands that Chelsea consider the injury-troubled striker's price tag and salary demands too high for incoming boss Antonio Conte to consider attempting a rehabilitation.
Instead, Conte is likely to turn his attention to bringing a high-profile target like Gonzalo Higuain, Edinson Cavani, Romelu Lukaku or Alvaro Morata to west London.
Falcao's two stunning seasons with Atletico Madrid made him one of the most in-demand players in the world and eventually earned him a move to big-spenders Monaco worth £40 million and a reported £285,000 a week until 2018.
He suffered a cruciate ligament tear during his first season in Ligue 1 and when Manchester United brought Falcao to Old Trafford in 2014 as Monaco looked to cut costs, they were not getting the player that had scored 70 goals in 24 months in Madrid.
Falcao started fourteen games under Louis Van Gaal, and has been named in the Blues' first XI just twice, scoring five goals over two seasons.
Now he finds himself at a crossroads. His options include a return to France to play for Monaco, where he netted 13 goals in 22 games in the slower Ligue 1. His contract there runs for another two years and any permanent move away from the principality will involve a pay cut.
"We thought about bringing him back in January, but he was injured," vice-president Vadim Vasilyev told RMC. "We won’t exclude the possibility of him coming back to the club in the summer."
Another Premier League move is difficult to imagine given Falcao's lack of success with United and Chelsea, but a return to Argentina with his former club River Plate could prove tempting and nearly materialised in January.
Then there is the Chinese Super League and Major League Soccer, where money and sponsorship opportunities are abundant and Falcao would be a star against a lower standard of opposition.
Roma are one of few top European clubs to be linked with his signature but are more likely to be tempted by the possibility of another loan than a permanent deal, which has not worked in Falcao's favour.
In the meantime, even his national team are tired of waiting for Falcao to find his best form. The man nicknamed 'El Tigre' for his aggressive, relentless playing style was not included in Colombia's squad for the Copa America and could be at risk of missing out on the Olympic Games, too.
He may take some inspiration from a man at his former club. Fernando Torres' career was derailed at Chelsea after his £50m move from Liverpool, with injury problems similarly reducing his speed and agility, but the Spaniard is enjoying an unlikely revival.
Torres continued to struggle with AC Milan before returning to Atletico, where he has found a key role this season as Diego Simeone's side challenge for both the Spanish league title and Champions League. It can be a long road back for a superstar who has missed out on so much football, but it is not an impossible one.
- Goal