 He began his River career in the youth team, playing in the eighth division of Argentine football.River's coach, Leonardo Astrada, gave Falcao his professional debut in the 2005 Torneo Clausura, on 6 March 2005, in a game that the club won 3–1 to Instituto de Córdoba.Falcao became a regular in the first team during the 2005 Torneo Apertura.