Rafael lost his place in the starting XI after a disappointing performance against Everton in that costly 4-4 draw with Everton towards the end of the season.

“I am excited about the opportunity to play for Benfica – a very famous and big club,” Fabio told A Bola. “I feel very honoured by Benfica’s interest, but my transfer now depends on negotiations with Manchester United.”

With Patrice Evra’s form being generally below par since the World Cup it seems very strange that the club are open to loaning Fabio out next season. It’s disappointing too. However, there are rumours that the deal has been put in place as a part exchange for Benfica star Nicolas Gaitán.

“To be honest, I think it’s well recognised by everybody that Antonio has been one of my best friends at the club,” Rafael told MUTV. “That’s not to disrespect anyone but I think we have created a very good understanding on the pitch. I can feel what he wants to do and vice versa and that is probably the reason why we have so much understanding on the pitch. I think it’s quite difficult to define Antonio’s qualities on the pitch. He’s quite fast and direct. He looks for the ball all the time. If I go forward, he covers me at the back and vice versa. It’s easy to work with him and, when I see him on the pitch, it leaves me more relaxed due to the understanding we have on the field.”

Sir Alex Ferguson singled Eriksen out for praise after last week’s game against the Dutch club and even suggested we might be interested in buying him.

“Eriksen is a very good player,” he told United Review. “He can pass the ball very well and create chances, and he was always very composed. I think he’s Ajax’s best player. Ajax are a good team. They’re from Holland, so that means they’re always trying to pass the ball. Never long balls, always on the floor, they’re a good team. It’s like in the Brazilian league, where you always try to play well. Ajax almost played with three strikers, but against us I think they had to defend a little bit more.”

“I believe that in life it is always necessary to forgive,” he told Globoesporte. “Patrice wanted to forgive Suarez. In Anfield he was attacked, but at Old Trafford he offered the hand. The action of Suarez was not justified. For me, to reject the hand of someone is very serious. The action of the Uruguayan before the beginning of the match increased our force to defeat Liverpool. In the ground, there was calm and the rivalry. But after the action of Suarez, the tension exploded.”

After the final whistle on Saturday, Fabio’s twin brother, Rafael, joined Evra in celebrating in front of the Stretford End.

Whilst he admits he is far happier in his usual position, he hasn’t ruled out making a move to the midfield when he’s older, although was surprised when Ferguson told him that’s where he was playing against Blackburn.

“A little bit, yeah,” he said replied when asked about his surprise. “But I’ve played there before for United so I knew what was expected of me. When the manager told me I was playing in midfield I wasn’t worried. I just thought, “I’m ready, let’s play!”. I’m a professional footballer so I’ll play anywhere. I probably did a little better when I moved back to my normal position, but I felt comfortable in midfield and would do it again. Maybe I’ll move there for good when I get a bit older. You never know! After all, look at Ryan Giggs and the way he has changed over the years. He’s even played at left back once or twice.”

Rafael has reflected on this bad luck but wonders whether his style of play has an influence on it.

“Some of my injuries, you just don’t hear about people having them very often,” he told the official site. “I’ve dislocated my right shoulder twice now and needed an operation to help it heal. It’s not usual for footballers to injure shoulders. And twice! I can only say it must be down to bad luck. . I like to play with passion and when I’m on the pitch I can’t worry about getting hurt or stop making tackles. I just want to play football and give my all.”

In his absence, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have played well at right back, but Rafael enjoys having the competition for a starting place in the team.

“It’s a good thing when you have that sort of competition,” he said. “When I watch Phil or Chris play at right back I just think, “Wow. Okay, I’m going to have to work even harder now if I want to get back in the team.” They’ve done really well.”

“The two of them are terrific talents,” said Ferguson. “But they keep getting injuries, the kids are always getting them. I’m hoping that maturity eradicates all these things they have but it’s all different types of injuries you know. They’re so sturdy. They’re strong boys but, possibly, they’re a wee bit optimistic in terms of the challenges they make. They always put a foot in, in terms of attacking-wise, and are always getting injured going into attacking moves. The boys just don’t see danger. Bryan Robson was that way too, ‘Bang, on they go’. They’re only 21, you know, they’re young. You forget they were in the team as teenagers. I think both of them could play right-back [in the long-term]. There’s nothing between the two of them really. They are both excellent talents and really positive players. It’s what I love about them. They don’t have an inkling of fear in the way they play at all. They’ve always been really positive lads and it’s the Brazilian nature.”

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The Da Silva twins at the Fluminense academy.

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With thanks to http://interleaning.tumblr.com.