Manchester United have been hit by the news that Brazilian defender, Rafael da Silva, could be out for the rest of the season with suspected broken ribs which he sustained in United’s U21 game with Leicester this week. The Daily Mail reports:
..his damaged ribs are expected to rule him out for around six weeks, effectively ending his season. The 24-year-old was hurt by a stray knee from Leicester’s Anthony Knockaert.
With Da Silva getting so little game time under Louis van Gaal this season you do wonder whether he has now played his last game for the club.
He exploded onto the scene as an 18 year old and Sir Alex Ferguson clearly loved his tenacious and swashbuckling style. But regular injuries have wrecked his season and, when he has played for Manchester United under Louis van Gaal, he has looked rash and impetuous. It is a flaw in his game that we had hoped would sort itself out with experience. But, at 24, Da Silva may have a big decision to make about his career this summer.
Rafa is popular amongst United fans
We believe that the Manchester United boss will offer Rafa the chance to stay at the club – he’s just 24 after all and still very promising – but he will offer him no guarantees of first team football and could well add another right back to the squad, with Nathaniel Clyne being regularly linked.
If he does depart it will leave many Manchester United fans disappointed about what could have been. Rafa gave some superb performances in United colours and even scored against Liverpool at Anfield.
Let’s see some of his best moments for the club. Manchester United fans: does he have a future at Old Trafford?
