In brief
Players may get personally involved in the rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool.
The Liverpool team’s captain, Steven Gerrard, spearheaded the animosity towards the Red Devils.
Two United players made it clear how much the English midfielder disliked them, and that both parties felt the same way.
In addition to technical skill, there were other requirements to succeed at Old Trafford during the Sir Alex Ferguson era of Manchester United. The top of that list was having a strong work ethic and being so committed to the club that nothing else mattered. It was essential to have the perseverance to compete for everything during games and the season. Additionally, it would typically be helpful to disrupt your opponents’ own strategy.
Rafael and Fabio da Silva, a Brazilian couple, were one such pair who would go on to become cult heroes at the Theatre of Dreams. The identical twins joined United from Fluminense in 2008 and made a total of 226 appearances for the team after assimilating into the first team. Ferguson would switch them up at halftime to keep his team fresh, according to an urban legend.
The Old Trafford supporters adored the brothers, but they weren’t afraid to turn against their rivals. Years after leaving English football, they disclosed that one prominent figure they were able to annoy was Steven Gerrard, the captain of Liverpool.
Gerrard’s Hate for Da Silva Twins Revealed
Wayne Rooney told the pair after returning from international duty
The twins discussed how they were able to inadvertently agitate some of their opponents in an interview with the Athletic in 2021. Rafael then provided a specific instance of how Wane Rooney once told them how much Gerrard detested the two of them when he returned to Carrington after an international break:
We were informed by Wayne Rooney that Steven Gerrard detested us. “Those twins, they are p*****!” Gerrard told him while he was on international duty, he claimed.
“We only changed his red colour; we never did anything else to him. That’s all it takes, I suppose. And to tell the truth, I knew what he meant. It was a reciprocal emotion.
Former Man Utd defender Rafael da Silva on he and his twin brother's rivalry with Steven Gerrard… 😂
[Via The Athletic] pic.twitter.com/tKs23RLinJ
— DR Sports (@drsportsmedia) July 29, 2021
Rafael’s remarks demonstrate the ferocity of the rivalry between United and Liverpool, which endures even when one of the teams is not playing at its best, as was the case during the Da Silva twins’ tenure in English football. The 34-year-old former right-back also had a problem with former teammate Carlos Tevez, so this isn’t the only well-known name he disliked.
“As a player, I don’t like Tevez. He and I have already argued. He had quit United after the match against City. Tevez liked to disparage new players, which is why I’ve never been a fan of his. “I don’t like him,” the former defender admitted without shame.
“He mistreated the children at United.” I never liked him because, although he was always so nice, he really picked on the kids there.
Why the Da Silva Twins Were Forced Out of United
Rafael in particular was left in the dark prior to his departure
The pair, known as “the Sunshine Kids,” gained popularity among Old Trafford supporters after graduating from the renowned Manchester United academy. They were the kind of players that were expected to play a part in the team at all times. Despite claims that Fabio was the stronger of the two, he was given less playing time because he had to contend with Patrice Evra, a mainstay at left-back. Following a fruitless loan stint at QPR, he would depart the team on a free transfer in 2015.
However, Rafael emerged as the team’s first-choice right-back, seizing the opportunity created by the injuries sustained by players such as John O’Shea, Wes Brown, and Gary Neville. He still doesn’t understand why the Dutchman wanted him out of the club, though, as he was abruptly ejected when Louis van Gaal showed up.
The former full-back explained, “Van Gaal simply said, ‘OK, you leave,’ when he arrived.” He arrived with a predetermined list of players he wanted and didn’t want, and he immediately got to work changing those things.
“He never gave me an explanation. However, I’ve heard some justifications from others, and even before he came, I heard everyone say, “He despises Brazilians.”
After stints at Gremio and Botafogo, the two would eventually embark on independent trips throughout Europe and Brazil before announcing their retirement at the start of 2025. Both of them received multiple caps from the national squad by the end of their careers.
The career statistics of Rafael and Fabio da Silva in Manchester
Statistics
Rafael
Fabio
Games
150
56
Minutes
12775
3181
Objectives
5.
3.
Helps
14
0
Trophies
9.
4.
xz
