Manchester United’s playing squad has been undergoing comprehensive surgery this summer, with upgrades in a number of positions as Louis van Gaal looks to push forward with a Premier League title charge in 2015-16.
The Old Trafford outfit have addressed areas of need such as central midfield and right-back to reinforce, with every chance that the historic club will be in the hunt for top spot come next May.
However, with every new signing one of the existing players’ positions came under threat, with Matteo Darmian’s acquisition from Torino the final nail in Rafael’s United tenure.
The attack-minded right-back has completed a move to French club Lyon ahead of the new season, putting to an end a fairly underwhelming last 12 months in England for the South American.
[ffc-gal cat=”manchester-united” no=”5″]
Regarded more able and likely to make a real impression than his brother Fabio, the 25-year-old has undergone contorting fortunes in his time in England. When he has been able to stay consistently fit and available, Rafael looked like a full-back with the potential to be an ever-present for the Red Devils.
In 2012-13 the South American looked like the closest thing to a long-term replacement for Gary Neville, making 27 Premier League starts and tied down the right-back slot as his own.
However, since that injuries and a dip in form have cost him his place, with Rafael only starting 24 times over the last two seasons. Van Gaal’s appointment last summer was viewed as a fresh start for everyone at the club, with each and every player having to prove himself once more to a new manager.
But the Brazil international obviously did little to win favour with the Dutch maestro, as he was relegated to fringe status and afforded only a handful of games in 2014-15. Strangely, right-back has been an area of concern over the last 12 months for United, with the most usual incumbent in the position a right winger by trade in the form of Antonio Valencia.
Despite this, the versatile Ecuador international got the nod more times than not, while others were also played out of position to plug the gap.
Just why Rafael did not fit the mould of a player that Van Gaal valued remains to be seen, as looking at it from the outside the Brazilian has all the qualities that the former Netherlands coach wants in a full-back.
Aggressive in the tackle, solid in possession and with an enviable work-rate, Rafael looked like a player that would fit into Van Gaal’s expansive game plan.
With the Dutchman also switching between a back four and three centre-halves and wing-backs, the Brazilian’s ability to play in both systems surely should have been a virtue.
Darmian looks set to solve the issues on the right-hand side for the Red Devils, while Rafael has left the club wondering just what could have been.
[ad_pod id=’ffc-poll’ align=’center’]
