Rafael
Personal information
Full name	Rafael Pereira da Silva
Date of birth	9 July 1990 (1990-07-09) (age 18)
Place of birth	Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position	Right back Right midfielder
Club information
Current club	Manchester United
Number	21
Youth career
000?–2008	Fluminense
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2008–	Manchester United	11 (1)
National team
2007	Brazil U-17
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:36, 2 March 2009 (UTC). * Appearances (Goals) Rafael Pereira da Silva (born 9 July 1990 in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro), commonly known as Rafael or Rafael da Silva, is a Brazilian football player, currently playing for Manchester United. He normally plays as a defender in a right back position, but can also play on the right side of midfield. He is the twin brother of Fábio, who also plays for Manchester United. Club career Rafael's professional football career began with Fluminense in Brazil, where he played at youth level.[1] Rafael and his brother Fábio were brought to the attention of Manchester United by club scout Les Kershaw in the summer of 2005 while playing for Fluminense in a youth tournament in Hong Kong.[2] The twins moved to Manchester in January 2008, but were unable to play in matches until they turned 18 in July 2008. Rafael made his first appearance for the club in a friendly match against Peterborough United on 4 August. He was then registered in the club's senior squad for the 2008–09 season and was assigned the number 21 shirt previously worn by Dong Fangzhuo. He made his competitive debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 Premier League season, coming on as a second half substitute for Fraizer Campbell against Newcastle United.[3] Rafael made his first start for Manchester United on 23 September 2008, playing at right back against Middlesbrough in the Third Round of the League Cup.[4] His first start in European competition was away to Aalborg BK in the UEFA Champions League on 30 September. Selected ahead of Gary Neville and Wes Brown, Rafael turned in an impressive performance, creating problems for the Danish side with his attacking play and two well hit shots before being substituted on 66 minutes due to injury.[5] He made his first Premier League start in Manchester United's 4–0 win at home to West Bromwich Albion on 18 October 2008.[6] His first goal for Manchester United came in the 90th minute of his seventh game for the club, a 2–1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 8 November 2008, with a powerful volley from just inside the penalty area.[7] [edit] International career In 2007, Rafael played for Brazil's national under 17 team in the FIFA U-17 World Cup. He has been approached by Portuguese national coach Carlos Queiroz and asked to play for Portugal's senior side, as both he and his twin hold Portuguese citizenship.[8] from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Pereira_da_Silva_(footballer_born_1990)