Monaco welcomed its prized new star striker Radamel Falcao at a news conference on Tuesday while midfielders Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez were also presented.

Colombian forward Falcao, known as ‘The Tiger’, told reporters gathered at a luxurious Monte Carlo palace that he was pleased to have made the move from Atletico Madrid.

“I am very happy to become part of this project, whose main objective is to reach the heights of European football,” Falcao said.

“We have great players; we have a strong desire, lots of ambition. The idea is to construct a strong team, a team who are united, obviously with the aim of excelling and winning lots of trophies,” Falcao said.

Falcao’s transfer fee is reported to be more than 50 million euros with a net annual salary of 14 million euros.

Monaco’s special tax status means his salary is likely to above the two players widely regarded as the best in the world – Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

Porto, a previous club of Falcao’s, have also transferred midfielders Moutinho and Rodriguez to Monaco, who were both instrumental in helping Porto clinch a third consecutive league title this season.

Moutinho said it was a sacrifice for him to leave his native Portugal but that the club’s ambitions had also convinced him.

Rodriguez denied turning down other offers, saying that Monaco’s new line-up was too strong a temptation.

Porto, who beat Monaco in the 2004 Champions League final, will receive 45 million euros for Colombian Rodriguez and 25 million for Moutinho. Both players have signed five-year contracts.

Monaco are proud of their history as a club but appear in front of an average crowd of 5,000 – something former players such as Thierry Henry have complained about in the past.