RAFAEL: FRENCH LIGUE 1 CAREER EXPOSED

Brazilian fullback Rafael da Silva tasted French Ligue 1 football for the first time in the colours of Lyon having moved there from Manchester United in the summer of 2015. If he had the choice, Rafael won't have left the Red Devils for France.

Rafael da Silva was a fans' favourite at Old Trafford and has retained the same status amongst the Manchester United faithfuls till date. He had to leave the club due to a lack of playing time under then manager Louis Van Gaal (LVG). In total, the Brazilian defender spent seven years at the Theatre of Dreams before his £2.5m transfer to Lyon.

The right-back signed a four-year contract when he joined Lyon six years ago. Rafael da Silva was just 25 when he left Old Trafford for French Ligue 1. He would later sign a contract extension with the former Ligue 1 champions until the summer of 2020. Rafael left Lyon at the end of his contract last summer after a return of two goals in 103 games in the French Ligue 1.

The Brazilian international played almost the same number of league games at Manchester United. Rafael scored five goals in 109 games in the Premier League in the colours of the Red Devils. The only difference was that he won league titles in the English top flight unlike the French top flight. He won three Premier League titles at Manchester United.

The 30-year-old won his first Premier League title during the 2008/09 campaign before adding a second one during the 2010/11 season. His third and final Premier League title came during the 2012/13 season. Rafael was part of the Manchester United team that won the last Premier League title for the Old Trafford outfit in what was the final season for legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Sir Alex Ferguson played a major role in the signing of Rafael and his twin brother Fabio da Silva from Fluminense in their native Brazil.
Rafael left Lyon for Istanbul Basaksehir of Turkey last summer. He penned a two-year deal at IstabulBasaksehir upon signing on a free transfer with the option of another year.