James Gordon
Rafael (left) won three Premier League titles against Manchester United.
In the group draw of this season’s Champions League, Rafael da Silva of Istanbul Basaksehir said his dreams could come true if he fulfilled his wish to meet the former Manchester United side.
United made a perfect start of their European campaign by winning both games and playing their first game against Rafael’s new team on Wednesday (17:55 GMT). The Turkish champions finished in group H without points.
Although he was sold to Lyon five years ago, why does a Brazilian friend remain a cult hero to the Red Devil’s followers?
Fearless and contagious
Rafael and his twin brother Fabio, who were discovered for their talent at the international youth tournament, joined United from Fluminense in January 2008, but were not allowed to play for Sir Alex Ferguson’s senior team until July of that year, when they turned 18.
In his debut in the 2008/09 season, Rafael played 170 times for United and won three Premier League titles, a League Cup and the Club World Cup.
He hasn’t been scared since he joined Manchester United, Manchester United author Wayne Burton said of the sport. They came from Brazil and were not allowed to play, but he was so confident that he would join the team with a one-two win and get the job done.
Many young people come and go for walks on the water, but the identity of Raphael is immediately recognizable. He seized the opportunity – and because he was so contagious, everyone was excited.
The composition of the two types of twins is due to the fact that they grew up in the streets of Brazil and had to be competitive. Raphael was a fiery player who was immediately loved, and that feeling never faded. That was part of his personality and allowed the team to adapt to the terrain.
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Raphael has played alongside some of United’s stars, including Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Robin of Percy.
It wasn’t an obvious marriage, but part of the love was that Sir Alex Ferguson felt alive with his team, including the Portuguese Ronaldo, Nani, Anderson and the twins, says Burton, who writes the autobiography of The Sunshine Kids, Raphael and Fabio.
They weren’t coasters, they were completely loyal, sincere. And since they were young, the crowd went straight to them.
Led by Ferguson, Raphael played most of the 2012-13 season, United’s last Premier League victory, and played regularly for his successor David Mois.
After the acquisition of the Dutchman in 2014, however, he only played for Louis van Gaal ten times and was sold to Lyon, where he played five seasons from 2015, before joining Basaksehir in the summer.
Barton adds: Raphael risked his right hand and bombed back and forth. He wasn’t expected to focus only on the defensive side of his game, but in this respect he showed remarkable play when playing against athletic players like Gareth Bale.
Under Van Gaal he was asked to do things that were not part of his natural game. Van Gal soon decided he didn’t need it.
- Check out all 13 first round games on iPlayer and Sport and see the app this weekend. You can find out more here.
Teves, Arsenal, Liverpool – three iconic moments
0-0 draw on subjects against Manchester – 10. November 2010.
Rafael meets ex-partner Carlos Tevez
Barton: Teves leaves United fiercely and a personal feud arises between them. They didn’t get along.
Raphael did not like the behaviour of Teves and when he came on the field in the Premier League draw (0-0), he had a small problem and Raphael had that disappointment that was all too obvious at that moment.
In his speech last year, Rafael described an informal association with Argentine striker Tevez, who left United for Manchester City in 2009: I don’t want to criticize those who do, but I personally think that if you have a certain identity with a team and then you go to the opponent, well, I wouldn’t do it.
Four with Fabio the FA Cup of England quarterfinals against Arsenal – 12. March 2011
Rafael and Fabio are partying, but what exactly?
Barton: Both played together in this quarterfinals of the FA Cup of England. Rafael and Fabio see themselves as one and the same person, and when Fabio scored a goal, you saw that game as the highlight of your luck with United.
Nothing sums up their time at United better than the image of how they party together.
Liverpool’s favorite game – 23. September 2012.
Рафаэль столкнется с игроками Ливерпуля в поражениии марте 2011 г.
Barton: A proverb comes to mind when it comes to the size of a dog in a fight. That’s why the fans loved him, because he didn’t let himself be deterred. The most memorable moment for Enfield was when he scored a goal during the title season.
It would never go against him. Ferguson could always count on Raphael.
– Headband 
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