Louis van Gaal broke fresh injury news to MUTV today, revealing that Brazilian full-back Rafael is out for the rest of the season, having sustained broken ribs while playing for the U21 side in the week:
“He has broken his ribs so he shall not play any more this season for Manchester United. It’s very unfortunate.”
And what on that face of it looks like just a standard injury could actually have far greater implications, as it could mean Rafael has now played his final game for the club.
Having gradually lost his first team place (he only made 6 Premier League appearances this season), it’s widely believed that Rafael will be sold in the summer, with the likes of Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw now ahead of him in the pecking order.
Having signed for Manchester United in 2008 alongside identical twin Fabio, the Da Silva twins were hailed as Manchester United’s future full-backs.
But it never quite materialized that way, with neither player developing tactically or technically as was expected, and with Rafael in particular suffering with incorrigible indiscipline.
Fabio was sold to Cardiff last year, and Rafael is set to follow him out the exit door this summer in all likelihood.
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