Rafael Gets A New Contract Deal

Rafael da Silva has signed a new two-year contract extension at Manchester United. The deal will keep Rafael at United until 2013. It's a well earned reward for the youngster from Brazil after a great start to his United career. I have been well and truly impressed with the way he has played in his first year. Rafael has made 24 appearances, scoring one goal and manager Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted with his progress.

Sir Alex, speaking on manutd.com said: "Everyone at the club has been very impressed and excited by his first year as a professional. His enthusiasm and the adventurous way he plays is typical of a Manchester United player and we are delighted that he has signed a new contract."

Rafael, who arrived in July last year after being brought up in Rio de Janiero, hopes to have a long association with United.

"It has been a fantastic first year and I have learned from all the players at the club but especially from the defenders. It has been an exciting time for me and I want to be part of this for a long time so to get an extension is unbelievable."

Rafael's professional football career began with Fluminense in Brazil, where he played at youth level.

Rafael and his brother Fábio were brought to the attention of Manchester United by club scout Les Kershaw in the summer of 2005 while playing for Fluminense in a youth tournament in Hong Kong.

Manchester United got in touch with Fluminense and asked permission for the twins to travel to Manchester to train with them in 2005. Shortly afterwards, a scout claiming to represent Arsenal visited the twins and asked them to come to England to train with Arsenal without the permission of Fluminense; however, they were dissuaded from this by their mother, who reminded them that they had been with Fluminense since they were 11, and that they should show the club some loyalty. The twins were also approached by Real Madrid while they were on international duty with Brazil.

Therefore, the twins decided to sign for Manchester United, and a deal was agreed between the two clubs in February 2007. The twins moved to Manchester in January 2008, but were unable to play in matches until they turned 18 in July 2008.

Rafael made his first appearance for the club in a friendly match against Peterborough United on 4 August. He was then registered in the club's senior squad for the 2008–09 season and was assigned the number 21 shirt previously worn by Dong Fangzhuo.

He made his competitive debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 Premier League season, coming on as a second half substitute for Fraizer Campbell against Newcastle United.

Rafael made his first start for Manchester United on 23 September 2008, playing at right back against Middlesbrough in the Third Round of the League Cup. His first start in European competition was away to Aalborg BK in the UEFA Champions League on 30 September. Selected ahead of Gary Neville and Wes Brown, Rafael turned in an impressive performance, creating problems for the Danish side with his attacking play and two well hit shots before being substituted on 66 minutes due to injury.

He made his first Premier League start in Manchester United's 4–0 win at home to West Bromwich Albion on 18 October 2008. His first goal for Manchester United came in the 90th minute of his seventh game for the club, a 2–1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 8 November 2008, with a powerful volley from just inside the penalty area. At the end of the season, Rafael and his Manchester United team-mate Jonny Evans were shortlisted as one of the nominees for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

On 19 April 2009, in the FA Cup semi-final against Everton, Rafael and his twin brother, Fábio, started a match together for Manchester United for the first time. However, United lost the match 4–2 on penalties

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Walter Henrique Da Silva

Manchester United are determined to land £5million-rated wonderkid Walter.

The 19-year-old, who plays for Brazil's Internacional, caught United's eye in the South American Youth Championships.

The striker, full name Walter Henrique Da Silva, is seen as Brazil's next big prospect.

Meanwhile, United had representatives in the stands to see another transfer target, Neymar, make his senior debut for Santos over the weekend.




Walter Henrique da Silva

Date of birth: 22/07/1989
Place of birth: Recife, Pernambuco
Height: 1.78 Mts.
Weight: 86 Kgs.
Foot: Right
Position: Forward
Team: SC Internacional

First Steps

Walter Henrique da Silva, or just Walter as he is known, started his career with the modest São José club in Porto Alegre at the age of 14.

In 2007 though he was discovered by one of the biggest sides in the Rio Grande do Sul as Internacional moved for him. After spending a season on loan at the club, where he shone in the you teams, he was signed on a permanent deal.

The 19-year-old is a typical number nine as he has a strong physique, is powerful and can score goals at will. But as well as being a striker that likes a physical game, he has also shown how good he is technically in the build-up too.

Walter's official debut for Inter came on May 11, 2008 when he played in the Brazilian championships against Vasco da Gama in the Beira Rio stadium when he came off the bench to replace Iarley.

That same year he went on to play eleven times for the first team, starting four games, but he has yet to score his first goal at the highest level.

"He is a player with great potential, but he is still very young and will mature," former Holland international and current Manchester United scout Jaap Stam stated.


National Team

After playing a number of games in Inter's first team, Rogério Lourenço, Dunga's assistant and technical director of the Under-20 team, called Walter up to become part of the new look squad aiming to make it to the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt this year.

Walter was part of the squad that played in the youth championship in L'Alcudia in Spain in August and was named as the best player in the tournament.

He went into the South American Under-20 event in Venezuela as the key player in the Brazilian team and in his first five games he scored four goals.

Future

The South American championships could change Walter's life and, after finishing the year not playing much for Inter, what his next step would be was therefore undecided.

Following his great performances in Venezuela though, the club could now choose to cash in on the striker and sell him for a profit without ever having seen him become a regular for them.

Walter, who is represented by agent Humberto Rímolo, does have a contract until 2013, but has been tracked by several major European club, including Manchester United.

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Manchester United Star Out Of Brazil Team For Friendly

Manchester United midfielder Anderson, no not the Anderson pictured left, I mean United's Samba Boy, will miss Brazil's friendly against Italy because of an injury.

Anderson is nursing an ankle injury sustained in a League Cup match and will not be able to recover in time for the Feb. 10 friendly at Emirates Stadium in London.

The Brazilian football confederation said Monday that coach Dunga will not summon a replacement for Anderson.

Brazil also will not be able to count with Juventus striker Amauri, who was not released by the Italian club after being called up to replace injured Sevilla forward Luis Fabiano. Dunga will not add another striker.....Back To Home Page...

Manchester United Discard Feeder Clubs

Manchester United have been streamlining their partnership clubs. In the past they have had a whole host of 'Feeder Clubs'. This provides a mutually beneficial mtwo way agreement whereby Manchester United get first choice on the young talent coming through the ranks at these feeder clubs and in exchange United send all their 'loan players' to play at these clubs which has it's obvious rewards.

United have just struck a deal with Brazil's Desportivo Brasil and maintain a strong relationship with Royal Antwerp.

United had tie-ups around the globe with Brommapojkarna in Sweden, Oslo Ost in Norway, Parramatta Eagles in Australia, FC Fortune in South Africa and Nantes in France to name a few.

However, none of the links proved a success and now all have been discarded.....Back To Home Page...

Sir Alex Keen To Become 'World Champions'

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has stated quite clearly he is keen for them to win the Club World Championship.

In a recent news conference he said: "We are delighted to be playing catch-up because it means we did things right during the previous season, to win the event in Tokyo would be great. We won it when it was a one-off game and now we have the opportunity to become the first British team to win it in its new tournament format. We will have to manage the second half of this season as best we can. We don't want to get to April and May and have to play rearranged games. Fulham and Wigan are our outstanding games and we will try to arrange them for January."

The FIFA Club World Cup, formerly known as the FIFA Club World Championship, is a competition contested between the champion clubs from all six continental confederations, although, since 2007, the champions of Oceania must play a qualifying play-off against the champion club of the host country.

The first competition took place in Brazil in January 2000. It was intended by FIFA to be a replacement for the Intercontinental Cup (also known as the Toyota Cup), which was contested annually in Tokyo, Japan by the champions of Europe via the Champions League and South America via theCopa Libertadores.

I guess it is a major trophy and it is worth winning but the timing of theis match and the journey involved to go and take part is not the best for United. Still, it is a piece of silverware so let's go and win it! .....Back To Home Page...

Anderson Good Ronaldo Bad !

Brazil dished out a right good whooping to Portugal last night to the tune of 6 goals to 2 and according to reports I have read Manchester United's Anderson did himself justice with a good display. He was very hardworking, combining well with Gilberto Silva and he was the player to link the backline to the midfield with his bursting runs forward from deep. I just can't wait for him to get his first goal for United. His hard work alone makes him a great part of the United set up but a goal for him will give him a huge Samba smile. I love him, I think he's going to be a great player for us.

Then there was Ronaldo who made a sizzling start but was quickly overshadowed by Robinho and Kaká as the game progressed. Eight goals scored on the night and not a single one from him… not even an assist. His bag of tricks simply did not work against a sharp Brazilian backline who always knew what he was up to......Back To Home Page.....

What's Hot In Brazil Right Now ?

So what's hot in Brazil, apart from the young lady parading around in a sexy manner to our left. Not that you would have noticed her such is your love for Manchester United - yeah right !

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Manchester United

have appointed two full-time scouts in Brazil to keep tabs on the latest Samba stars.

Ferguson already has four young Brazilians on his books, with twins Rafael and Fabio Da Silva, plus Rodrigo Possebon joining Anderson in the Old Trafford first-team squad this season.

Now reports have emerged linking United with the 'new Ronaldinho', 18-year-old midfielder Douglas Costa, who is earning rave reviews at Gremio.

While Ferguson is refusing to comment on that specific speculation, it is no coincidence United are starting to get linked with more Brazilians.

"We have invested in two full-time scouts in Brazil, it is a country you should pay attention to. Historically, it has always been a country that produces fantastic footballers and players who can play in big games all the time. They have ability and enthusiasm."

While it may seem odd to cast the youth net so wide, Ferguson feels he is only following a trend that brought Sir Bobby Charlton down from the north-east in the 1950s and George Best across from Northern Ireland a decade later.

"It goes in cycles, the north-east used to be a great hunting ground for scouts for many years. We had a spell in 1993. France had a great spell and are still producing some fantastic young players. Our scouts go to games and might get seen. It doesn't mean we are signing anyone."

Maybe if there are no players available he should import 24 of these delightful girls to entertain the guys at half time while we girls all meet up for a gossip by the Tea and Burger van.....Back To Home Page

Jaap Stam Signs For Manchester United !!

Jaap Stam has reportedly made a
sensational return to Manchester
United Football Club.

The former Dutch international defender
had a well-publicised bust-up with Sir
Alex Ferguson, after he criticised the
Scot in his autobiography ‘Head-to-Head’.

Ferguson has since revealed he regrets
letting the former PSV Eindhoven star
leave the club, but the Daily Mail claims
the retired Stam is now back at United
as a scout.

The 36-year-old was spotted in Brazil
watching some youngsters United have
expressed an interest in, and the Daily
Mail claims he was there on behalf of
the European champions.

Would you believe it ? It's just a pity the
argument was not settled when Stam was
at United because he was certainly one of
the best defenders we ever had...Back To Home Page