Gone but never forgotten, Rafael will always have a place in many Manchester United fans’ hearts.
The Brazilian right-back, now at Lyon after being sold by Louis Van Gaal, has enjoyed a positive start to the season with the French club, enjoying more freedom going forward in their new 3-5-2.
Speaking to L’Equipe ahead of Liverpool-Manchester United, the 26-year-old was always up for a challenge, showing heart for days, winning the adulation of the crowd with his tenacity even if his defensive abilities often left a lot to be desired.
This love from the Old Trafford regulars is something the player never really appreciated until it was time to leave the club.
He explained: “I didn’t know I was so popular until I left. I never received as many letters and messages than I did then. The games against Liverpool must have something to do with it. I always loved that, they were my favourite games.
“It was so heated in Anfield, so good. When I see the images again, I keep thinking I was crazy. Here (in Lyon), the derby is mental, and I liked that too.”
Touching on his relationship with Fabio, his twin brother, Rafael revealed he still spoke to him daily, and jokingly blamed Evra as the reason why the left-back spot never opened up.
He said: “Evra wanted to play all the games. Even the Carling Cup! But he’s a friend, a good guy, with a good mentality. He taught me a lot, especially when it came to getting over tough times.”
Picking up 27 different injuries during his time at Manchester United, tough times were aplenty for the full-back, who eventually fell out of favour once Sir Alex Ferguson left, much to the displeasure of many fans.
Still, it’s no coincidence if Rafael is starting wriggle his way into the hearts of Lyon fans with the same smiling face and commitment he displayed on a weekly basis at Old Trafford.
That’s just who he is.
