RAFAEL DA SILVA (BRA; right-back)
Having inherited Gary Neville’s number two shirt in pre-season, Rafael has demonstrated that he is capable of becoming the long-term successor to the former England full-back on the right flank of the United defence. A doggedly tenacious defender, the Brazilian scored a fine goal in a 2-1 win at Liverpool in September and produced a goal-of-the-season contender with a 25-yard thunderbolt in a 2-0 win at Queens Park Rangers in February.
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