Fabio eager to see Benfica deal done

Fabio da Silva hopes to complete a loan move to Benfica.

Fabio has confirmed his interest in joining Benfica on loan.

The 21-year-old said: "It would be very good for me. I will definitely know my future at the end of the season. I have not talked with anyone from Benfica, I am waiting for everything to be right."

Agent rejects Sporting talk for Man Utd's Fabio: Only Benfica

The agent of Manchester United fullback Fabio da Silva insists Benfica remain the clear option for him next season.

The has been talk of Sporting Lisbon taking Fabio on-loan.

But agent Cassiano Pereira told A Bola: "I do not know where this came from, but this is a surprise. We are only aware of the claimed interest and the hypothesis that appeals to Fabio, which is Benfica."

Sporting in pole position to loan Fabio

Sporting Lisbon are favourites to land Manchester United defender Fabio da Silva on loan next season after a falling-out between the Old Trafford club and Benfica.

United are furious that Benfica are strongly linking them to the Portuguese club's £20million playmaker Nicolas Gaitan when it is believed Sir Alex Ferguson has other midfield targets in mind, Tottenham's Luka Modric and Eden Hazard of Lille.

It has allowed Sporting to take the lead in negotiations to sign 21-year-old Fabio on a season-long loan, even though Benfica have also expressed an interest.

The young Brazil left-back has found his opportunities at Old Trafford restricted by the consistency of Patrice Evra, and Ferguson wants him to have regular first-team football.

Ferguson reveals plans for Fabio loan

Sir Alex Ferguson plans to send Fabio da Silva away on-loan next season.

Ferguson is wary that the 21-year-old needs regular football at this stage of his career and is willing to farm him out to another club in time for the 2012/2013 campaign. After appearing in the Champions League final against Barcelona last season, the full-back has made 15 appearances this term, with many of them coming in Europe or the Carling Cup.

"I hope that Fabio will develop the same way as his twin [Rafael] and, to help him, he will go out on loan next season to give him concentrated first-team experience," the boss wrote in his exclusive column in Sunday's United Review, the official matchday programme.

"I have already talked to him and he understands the value of playing regularly at a higher level than we can give him at the moment."

Ferguson hails character, courage of his Da Silva twins

 Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed the resilience of twins Rafael and Fabio da Silva.

He has faith in the exciting duo and admits he loves their swashbuckling style, even if it does cause them to pick up knocks along the way.

"The two of them are terrific talents," Ferguson told manutd.com. "But they keep getting injuries, the kids are always getting them.

"I'm hoping that maturity eradicates all these things they have but it's all different types of injuries you know.

"They're so sturdy. They're strong boys but, possibly, they're a wee bit optimistic in terms of the challenges they make. They always put a foot in, in terms of attacking-wise, and are always getting injured going into attacking moves.

"The boys just don't see danger. Bryan Robson was that way too, 'Bang, on they go'. They're only 21, you know, they're young," he stressed. "You forget they were in the team as teenagers.

"I think both of them could play right-back [in the long-term]," stated Sir Alex. "There's nothing between the two of them really. They are both excellent talents and really positive players. It's what I love about them. They don't have an inkling of fear in the way they play at all.

"They've always been really positive lads and it's the Brazilian nature."

Fabio: Rafael and I wanted to move to Man Utd later in careers

Fabio da Silva admits he and twin brother Rafael didn't plan to move to Manchester United when they did.

The former Fluminense fullbacks have now been three years at United.

"Of course it is always difficult to change your country, more so when I'm in love with Brazil, I love my city, Petropolis. But after three years we have already become used to things.

"We really wanted to have played professionally for Fluminense, it was our dream. It has not happened, we came here at a very early, at age 17.

"This was not our goal, we wanted to come when a little older. But it was good to get experience and it has been good so far."

Da Silva twins admit fooling Man Utd boss Ferguson

The Da Silva twins admit they've fooled Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson about their identities - but only once!

Manchester United's gaffer has difficulty telling one from the other so the identical duo had some fun.

Fabio revealed: "One day we deceived the coach.

"Ferguson had called Rafael to train then I went to the session instead.

"But I found it impossible to maintain the rate my brother was capable of at the time, and the coach said: 'Are you Fabio? He just smiled and give me a clip round the head!'."

Fabio: Next target senior Brazil call

Fabio da Silva has his sights set on breaking into Mano Menezes' Brazil squad.

Twin brother Rafael has already been capped by Menezes in the last year.

"I think now of the Brazilian national team," said Fabio.

"I do not know if I will get a call from Mano after the Copa America, but we (Fabio and Rafael) have both thought about being part of very strong squad like Manchester United would give us a better chance of playing together for Brazil and winning things for the country."

Brotherly love: Rafael hopes he and Fabio never separated

Rafael da Silva fears the day he can't play at the same club as twin brother Fabio.

The pair are being backed to be first-choice fullbacks for United and Brazil in the near future.

"Some day it might happen that we have to play separately," said Rafael.

"We don't want it to happen, of course. But these things happen in football. We always want to play together but we are prepared for it." Let's hope it's not any time soon."

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."

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."

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."

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."