Louis van Gaal has allowed Rafael da Silva to leave Manchester United for Lyon for a fee thought to be around £2.5m. Rafael, the only other specialist right back in United’s senior team, was tactically pushed out of the club after LVG made sure his appearances in the first team became even more limited with the arrival of Italian international Matteo Darmian. Lyon have officially announced their acquisition of the three-time Premier League Champion, and one-time UEFA Champions League winner “who will sign in the coming days a four-year contract with OL, ie until June 30, 2019.”
Lyon has announced the capture of 25 yr old Rafael da Silva on a 4 year contract
Last season Rafael behind, the severely predictable, Antonio Valencia in the pecking order, and for some reason or the other the Dutch manager never took to Rafael’s style of play. Not the most polished article, but full of joy, passion, adventure, ferocity, and embodied the United never say die attitude. LVG never felt he was solid enough defensively and favored the robotic and predictable Ecuadorian over the sometimes-rash Brazilian.
Da Silva fell behind in the plans of his new manager Louis van Gaal
David de Gea whose future is in the balance at United, joins the outpouring of plaudits to da Silva
It must be said that Rafael sometimes proved to be ill-disciplined, easily got caught up in the heat of battle, and sometimes caused his team aggravation by conceding a penalty here and there, or getting himself sent off. But such was his warrior spirit, forever competing as if an underdog, even in the height of his best run with the team. Ultimately injuries severely affected Rafael’s appearances for the team over the years, with the Brazilian not completing 20 games in the league for 4 straight years.
The Da Silva twins, Rafael and Fabio could have been forces on the right and left for years but faded
When Sir Alex brought Rafael and his twin Fabio to the club from Fluminense in January 2007, red devils fans romanticized the duo would repeat the feats of the Neville twins, and be United’s staple right and left backs for years to come, both very attacking players. A spectacle that now will never come to pass as the last da Silva brother bows out in his prime.
Rafael da Silva always a willing warrior for Manchester United
At just 25 years of age, Lyon is getting a gem of a player here, a winner. He won most fans over, even his harshest critics were taken by the pure joy he brings to his craft, his relentless nature, and absolute love for the shirt – a player who taught us all how to be warriors.