da_silva_rafael
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| Name: Rafael Pereira Da Silva |
Nationality: Brazil |
| Position: defender |
Signing Information: Transferred from: Fluminense, 01/2008, £?? |
| Birthdate: 09-07-1990 |
Years at Club: 2008-2015 |
| Age: (34) |
Debut: 17/08/2008 v Newcastle United (H) 1-1 (FA Premiership) |
| Birthplace: Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
Previous clubs: Fluminense |
| Height: 5' 7" (1.70m) |
Farewell to Manchester United: Transferred to Olympique Lyon, 03/08/2015, £2.1m |
| Weight: 10st 9lbs (67.59kg) |
Passed Away: |
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Rafael Da Silva is a Brazilian right-back celebrated for his passion, energy, and dedication, especially during his tenure at Manchester United. Born on July 9, 1990, in Petrópolis, Brazil, Rafael joined United in 2008 alongside his twin brother, Fábio, after catching the eye of scouts at Fluminense. His fierce playing style and determination quickly endeared him to fans. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafael developed into a reliable full-back known for his aggressive defending and attacking support down the right flank.
During his time at Old Trafford, Rafael made 170 appearances scoring 5 goals and was part of a golden era for the club, winning three Premier League titles (2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13), a League Cup in 2008–09, and reaching the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals during his stay in Manchester. His defensive versatility and ability to contribute to the attack became crucial assets, as did his instinct for scoring spectacular goals, like his memorable strike against Liverpool in 2012.
In 2015, after seven years at United, Rafael transferred to Olympique Lyonnais in France’s Ligue 1. At Lyon, he continued to be an impactful player, providing experience and work rate across five seasons. Following his time in France, he joined Istanbul Basaksehir in Turkey in 2020, where he won the Turkish Süper Lig title. He later returned to Brazil, joining Botafogo, where he continued to bring energy to his game.
Internationally, Rafael represented Brazil at the 2008 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal, and earned his first senior cap in 2012. Known for his tenacity, passion for the game, and loyalty, Rafael remains a beloved figure at Manchester United and among fans worldwide. Rafael is the twin brother of Fabio da Silva. They are the 11th set of brothers to play for Manchester United. |
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| League |
League Cup |
FA Cup |
Charity Shield |
European Cup |
Europa League |
Super Cup |
Cup Winners Cup |
Inter-Continental Cup |
World Clubs Cup |
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| No |
Season |
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Season
Goals |
Season
Apps |
| 1 |
2008-2009 |
1 |
16 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
28 |
| 2 |
2009-2010 |
1 |
8 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
16 |
| 3 |
2010-2011 |
0 |
16 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
28 |
| 4 |
2011-2012 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
| 5 |
2012-2013 |
3 |
28 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
40 |
| 6 |
2013-2014 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
29 |
| 7 |
2014-2015 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
| TOTALS |
5 |
109 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
11 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
26 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
170 |
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