Barcelona see fullback Rafael as long-term Dani Alves successor

Barcelona are interested in fullback Rafael da Silva.

El Mundo Deportivo says Barca see Rafael as a long-term successor to Daniel Alves.

Alves penned a new deal with Barca earlier this year, but Barca are still planning for the long-term and have United right-back Rafael in their sights.

Rafael was kept out of United's first team for the Champions League final by twin brother Fabio.

The pair have just turned 20 years of age and Rafael is already a Brazil international.

Da Silva twins forever grateful to Ronaldo

Da Silva twins have spoken of how Cristiano Ronaldo helped them to settle at Old Trafford.

Rafael says Ronaldo took them under his wing when they first arrived.

"He is a simple guy and a very nice person. He was the first to greet us when we came to Manchester and the ease of the language helped us to get along. My brother and I would spend a lot of time at his house and he in ours.

"He was a great friend and I will always have good memories of him."

On the pitch, Fabio says Ronaldo is the best: " Cristiano Ronaldo dribbles, but always with an objective. Look at the number of goals he scored this season."

Da Silva twins would never dare try to trick Ferguson

Rafael da Silva says even their mum can't tell him and brother Fabio apart!

Sir Alex could only tell the 20-year-old apart by Fabio's wedding ring- but now rafael is married too he is  struggling again.

Rafael told The Sun: "Even our parents sometimes get confused, but I guess there are personality clues that set us apart.

"The guys at Man Utd used to be able to tell the difference between us by checking for Fabio's wedding ring. But I'm also married now, so...

"Even Sir Alex struggles a bit, but we would never dream of tricking him. The man is a father figure for us and a father can get angry with naughty kids!

"Having said that, we have exchanged shirts a couple of times to get the lads confused during training!"

Rafael believes there are certain differences people can look out for.

He said: "I've got some marks on my face that Fabio hasn't.

"I think I'm probably more aggressive than him whereas he's calmer than me."

Rafael hopes he and Fabio can share Brazil glory

Rafael hopes he and twin brother Fabio will soon be part of the Brazil national team.

While neither he, nor twin brother Fabio, are in Brazil's preliminary 28-man squad for this summer's Copa America, he hopes it is only a matter of time before they make the breakthrough.

Rafael said: "The Champions League is a world competition.

"Because we have played in it, the national team recognise me and my brother much more now.

"I was with the national team at the beginning of the season and the more I can play for United, the more chances I hope to get."

Rafael knows he influenced Neville retirement

Rafael da Silva knows he influenced Gary Neville's decision to retire at Manchester United.

The young Brazilian is fast becoming United's first-choice right-back.

He told Globoesporte: "I have played more, every year I get better and more experienced.

"When I arrived they had other owners of the position, but I showed I could do the trick there.

"That's why (Gary) Neville retired. He said it was time to make room for younger people."

Da Silva twins full of praise for fans hero Chicharito

Da Silva twins have hailed the impact made by teammate Javier Hernandez this season.

The Mexican gets along with both Brazilians, who have helped the former Chivas star to settle.

Rafael said: "He's a great player. He has a lot of room to develop further, like us, but he started well and has been important for the team. I often mix with him, but I speak more English than him."

Fabio also told Globoesporte: "He is loved by the fans, they already love him.

"You can see that Manchester hires the right people and chooses very well. Ferguson does not like spending much money."

How Scotland stars inspired Man Utd Da Silva twins to take up football

Manchester United fans have Scotland to thank for getting the Da Silva twins into football.

Fabio and Rafael da Silva now making their way at Old Trafford.

And Rafael told the Scottish Sun: "Of course, I remember we played Scotland in the World Cup in France in 1998.

"It was a good game. I was at home watching on TV.

"I was very young but I remember it very well. I always watched as much football as I could when I was a kid so I loved this match.

"It was a very hard game for Brazil. In fact I was a little bit worried that Scotland could win and damage my country's hopes.

"Brazil led 1-0 but we all knew that Scotland had a very good team.

"I had just started to understand everything about football back then.

"Fabio and I always played football from the start, since we were five.

"To be honest, it wasn't a brilliant neighbourhood but it was normal. A poor Rio neighbourhood.

"It was very different from the UK and football was the only thing we would do. But that game against Scotland was one of the ones that made me think: Yes, one day I want to play at that level."

Man Utd senior players surprised Fergie gave Da Silva twins wing start

Edwin van der Sar hailed the impact of the Da Silva twins in their FA Cup victory over Arsenal.

Van der Sar admits the selection of Fabio and Rafael even surprised senior United players.

"It was a team we had never even trained with, let alone played," Van der Sar said. "I was chatting to Patrice (Evra) in the car going to Old Trafford the day before the game about what the team was going to be.

"We came up with Fabio on the left. We never guessed Rafael would be on the right wing.

"They bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the team. We have seen them at the back, but they don't stay there for long because they are always going forward."

Neville believes future is bright at Old Trafford with young right-back Rafael

Gary Neville is convinced his coveted right-back role at Manchester United is in safe hands.

Neville announced his retirement from the game last week after finally admitting defeat in his battle with injury.

The 35-year-old has struggled for a number of seasons and his last two performances - which could have brought dismissal against both Stoke and West Brom - left him certain it was time to walk away.

Neville's decision was made easier by the knowledge young full-back Rafael now has the capability to hold down the job.

The retired star feels the 20-year-old has made excellent progress this term and is confident United can now look ahead positively, knowing the position is tied down for many years to come.

'You can now say we've got a first-choice back-four for the first time in a few years,' Neville told the club's official website.

'Rafael's always had ability. He gets to the ball quickly, he is aggressive, he defends his position well, he is tough, courageous, good on the ball, he gets forward well and provides energy in attack.

'But he has really developed in the last six months with games and experience.

'He has also got a great attitude. He is more than capable of going on to become United's right-back for many years.'

It takes Neville back to when he was a younger member of the United squad, making his own way forward in a dressing room containing the likes of Roy Keane, Peter Schmeichel and Eric Cantona.

'I remember when I was young defender you need that time to mature and get experience,' he said.

'We haven't had a consistent right-back in the last couple of years. I have been around. Wes Brown and John O'Shea have played some games as well as Rafael, but in the last four or five months we've had a consistent performer in that position.'

Rafael is expected to keep his place for Saturday's eagerly-anticipated duel with Manchester City when, for once, Ferguson will not be sweating on the return of so many international stars.

Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick, Patrice Evra, Dimitar Berbatov and Park Ji-sung offer a pretty solid backbone, in addition to Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans, one of whom will partner Nemanja Vidic in central defence.

Fabio: Rafael cannot remember collision

Rafael da Silva has little memory of his clash against Blackpool.

The right-back clashed heads with Seasiders' striker Marlon Harewood and was taken off on a stretcher in a neck-brace.

Rafael was rushed to hospital for scans which revealed the Brazilian, 20, had concussion.

His twin brother Fabio, who witnessed the horror crunch as he was on the United bench, said: "He doesn't remember much.

"But doctors have said this is normal and he'll be out for two weeks."

Ferguson to swap Fabio with Rafael to get around suspension! Brilliant Idea!

Sir Alex Ferguson reckons he can get around any suspension for Rafael - by passing him off as his twin brother Fabio!

Rafael is banned for the clash with Birmingham City following his red card in last weekend's 0-0 draw at Tottenham, following a second yellow card.

Fergie is considering playing Fabio in his place at right-back, but joked that he could play his identical twin Rafael and no-one would be any the wiser.

"I might put Rafael in there,"said Fergie. "They wouldn't know [the difference]. Their DNA is probably the same."

Ferguson confident Rafael and Anderson can replace Neville and Scholes and says Bebe will be a striker!

Sir Alex Ferguson sees Rafael da Silva as his long-term right-back.

Gary Neville has made just four appearances in all competitions this season and his loss of pace was exposed at West Brom last Saturday, with the 35-year-old fortunate not to be sent off and concede a penalty following a badly-time challenge on Graham Dorrans.

Rafael, in contrast, has emerged as first-choice right-back with Ferguson admitting that the 20 year-old has made impressive progress in recent months.

“Injury opens doors and the succession of setbacks suffered by Gary Neville has provided Rafael with more opportunities than he perhaps expected at this stage of his career,” Ferguson said.

“He is one of several players who have moved their careers forward when they have been brought into the team.”

Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson says Bebe's long-term future will be at striker.

Bebe signed for United from Vitoria Guimaraes as a winger.

However, the Telegraph says Ferguson claimed last week that Bebe, the Portuguese winger, is now being moulded into a central striker.

Bebe is being groomed to provide competition for Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov alongside Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez and Federico Macheda.

Besides, SAF reckons Anderson can become heir apparent to United legend Paul Scholes.

Scholes, 36, is in the twilight of his career and Fergie believes Brazilian youngster Anderson has what it takes to fill the midfielder’s boots.

Fergie said: “Anderson’s form has gone up a notch. I was delighted he signed a new contract before Christmas.

“He knows he should score more goals and if, and when, he does he, will undoubtedly become a top player.

“He is still only 22, he has electric pace from a standing start and great appetite for the ball, which he can work out of very tight situations.

“Opponents can never rest easy when he is buzzing around them.

“Injury to Paul has given him an extended run that he has grabbed and long-term I hope he can prove to be Paul’s successor.

“It’s a big ask to reach that level and the challenge will test his confidence, but someone will have to step up to the plate one day.”

Sir Alex still can't split between Rafael and Fabio. Many fans can't as well =p

Fullback Rafael da Silva admits manager Sir Alex Ferguson still can't split he and twin brother Fabio.

The 20-year-olds may have been in England for more than two years - and have known the United boss twice as long - but the pair are still easily mixed up.

"When we came to the club, Fabio had just got married and wore a ring," Rafael told Globoesporte. "So our boss just had to look at the left hand to tell us apart. It was quite funny.

"But now we are both married and wear rings. This has made his life more difficult and occasionally he still gets it wrong. We laugh, but he takes it well."

da Silva twins admit feeling lonely in England and rules out playing for another country

Manchester United fullback Fabio da Silva knows there's great expectations on himself and twin brother Rafael.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson expects both players to be big stars at Old Trafford.

And Fabio said: "The night before I first moved here, I never slept. I was wondering what would happen. Here everything is different, but we are adapting.

"The pressure is something you feel. It can be daunting, but it also shows people respect you."

Meanwhile, Rafael da Silva admits he's found it difficult to make friends in England.

Rafael and twin brother Fabio are close and admit they do not have many friends outside their inner circle.

"We do not care about drinking, partying and stuff," said Rafael. "And people here are different. It is difficult to make friends.

"Robinho lived here (when he was with Manchester City) and liked to party. But each has his way and knows himself. There's no reason to be homesick."

However the twins have ruled out pledging their international future to Portugal.

The pair, who have both played for Brazil U17, qualify for Portugal through family connections and there are concerns they could turn their back on Brazil.

"No way," declared Fabio.

"Our biggest dream is to represent Brazil at the 2014 World Cup. Of course it is wonderful to be in Manchester, and we want to stay here for a long time.

"But we'll never stop being Brazilian."