The mother of Manchester United striker Radamel Falcao has hinted that he could leave the club this summer.

The 29-year-old is currently on a season-long loan from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco but has struggled to establish himself at Old Trafford, making just 16 starts and scoring only four goals for the club.

United manager Louis van Gaal is not expected to take up the option of a permanent deal for the Colombian, and his mother Carmenza Zarate has strengthened those rumours by hinting that he could be on his way out of Manchester.

"Not everything has been easy in Falcao's life. He has had some difficult moments in his career. They slowed his progress and prevented him from participating in important competitions like the World Cup, or have confined him to the bench, like in Manchester. I often remind him that after a test or a difficulty, blessings arrive," she told Colombian newspaper El Espectador.

"We hope for bigger and better things. God hasn't abandoned us and my son will become again what he has been, a goalscorer. Even if he's unhappy not to be in the starting XI, he has to accept the coach's decisions. It's not a normal situation given what he has experienced in his career, but it happens in football. If God shows him a new path, he'll leave Manchester; if not, he'll stay.

"I believe what [Van Gaal] does with Falcao is not personal because the same thing happens with Angel di Maria and Robin van Persie. It's his way of working, and you have to respect that. [Falcao] has to prove results for the Manchester United executives, and we will see how he achieves that."

Falcao has started just one league game for United since the end of February.