Rafael

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Rafael
Rafael was born in Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro, and is very much a modern full-back: he loves to bombard down the right flank - but he's not all just Brazilian flair, he's made of tough stuff.

Rafael, who like his twin brother Fabio is a Brazilian youth international, was a somewhat surprise inclusion in the Reds' starting line-up at Peterborough on 4 August 2008 in Barry Fry's testimonial match. Talk about taking your chance when it comes. Sir Alex described the 18-year-old's performance as "a sensation".

Finally, it was the end of one long journey from his former Brazilian club Fluminense, and the start of a new
one with United.

What made Rafael's debut all the more startling was that he hadn't played for over a year. The Reds had been waiting for international clearance on the pair's transfer from Brazil, so they had been unable to play for United during that time and, in fact, didn't play any regular competitive football.

Both brothers were spotted by Les Kershaw, then Academy Manager, in the summer of 2005 while playing for Fluminense in a Hong Kong youth tournament.

Rafael seems dauntless, and his ten-minute cameo on his competitive debut against Newcastle appeared to back up that claim, as did his first goal
in a red shirt - a stunning last-minute volley in the defeat at Arsenal in November 2008.

He quickly began stringing together top-level performances, displacing fit-again club captain Gary Neville and England international Wes Brown at various stages of the campaign. Rafael copes with high-pressure matches with a calm which belies his tender years.

Sir Alex Ferguson handed Rafael a two-year contract extension before the defender had even completed his first season in England. The Brazilian ended 2008/09 with a nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year award, and a place on the bench in the ChampionsLeague final, just a year after watching from the stands in Moscow.

Injuries blighted Rafael's second season at United. Shoulder trouble in pre-season meant his first appearance of 2009/10 only came in late October, and an ankle injury sustained in the Carling Cup final limited him to just two starts from March onwards.But there were still highlights, including a goal against Wigan and two eye-catching Champions League displays at right-back against AC Milan in the San Siro and Bayern Munich at Old Trafford. More proof that a very bright future awaits.

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