Manchester United's Falcao has Yorkshire roots

Football star Radamel Falcao has a surprising secret that may not please Manchester United fans - he has family roots in Yorkshire.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Radamel Garcia revealed his grandfather - the footballer's great-grandfather - was George King, an accountant born in the North Yorkshire village of Burn, near Selby.

King was in his mid-twenties when he and his wife took off for a new life in South America, he told the paper.

King took up an accountancy post in northern Colombia, but shortly after the couple arrived his wife tragically died during childbirth, Radamel Snr said.

The widower then met a Colombian named Juliana, with whom he had five children, including Denis - Falcao's grandmother.

The striker's father says he is "proud" of his English blood - and even tried to get his son a British passport when the young Falcao was a prospect attracting European clubs.

Unfortunately for England fans, the request was turned down as the family link was one generation too far to be considered for citizenship.