ISTANBUL BASAKSEHIR: HOW RAFAEL WAS UNVEILED

In one of the most unique player announcements in recent memory, Rafael da Silva was unveiled as a teenage mutant Ninja Turtle in his announcement video. Rafael da Silva is a former Manchester United right-back who has also played for his country Brazil in the past. He signed for Turkish champions Istanbul Basaksehir on a free transfer after leaving Lyon in the French league. Rafael da Silva left Lyon at the end of his contract with the club having moved to Lyon from Manchester United during the Louis Van Gaal era. Left for the player, he was reluctant to leave a club and supporters who adore him at the Theatre of Dreams but the player didn’t get much opportunities under Dutchman Van Gaal thus prompting his move to France. The Brazilian defender signed a five-year deal at Lyon when he teamed up with them in the summer of 2015 and he was at the club for the entire duration of that contract. In one of his recent interviews, Rafael talked about the reason behind his exit and how he had been told that Louis Van Gaal don’t really like Brazilian players. He spent one year with Van Gaal, who was made the Manchester United manager in the summer of 2014. The Dutchman would later join the club to work after he had led his country Netherlands to third place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament in Brazil.


When he signed for Istanbul Basaksehir last summer, Rafael da Silva penned a two-year deal with the option for a third year and was given the number four jersey. He was able to play against his beloved Manchester United in the Champions League twice in the group stage last year. The first meeting ended in a 2-1 win at home for Istanbul Basaksehir with Rafael da Silva playing the whole game. He was also in the starting XI as Manchester United got revenge with a 4-1 win in their home leg.

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