The pair’s progress has seemingly gone backwards this season, and Sir Alex Ferguson was less than impressed with their contribution against Ajax last week.
When young Brazilian Rafael da Silva made his Manchester United debut in 2008 he amazed fans by just how seamlessly he slotted into the side.
With Gary Neville reaching retirement he offered a new hope to the club, and what was more, the news he had a ‘more talented’ twin brother who could play on the left only excited fans further.
Three and a half years on, and neither have fully cemented their places in the side, despite both appearing in Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011.
Patrice Evra remains a fixture at left-back and Fabio da Silva has yet to show why he deserves to dislodge him, while Rafael is one of a number of options United choose to use at right-back.
To be fair to Rafael, he missed much of the first half of this season through injury, but his cavalier attitude which leads to him picking up bookings gives fans the jitters.
He has picked up two red cards in his short career, against Bayern Munich and Tottenham, both were needless and even last week against Ajax he showed no sign of having learned from those mistakes.
Sir Alex Ferguson said last week that he made a mistake picking a young defence against Ajax of Rafael-Jones-Smalling-Fabio.
This shows that he is still far from convinced about the Brazilian twins, but the players have been Manchester United stars for more than three seasons now, and surely this should not be an issue?
It is all well and good to talk about potential, but sooner or later the 21-year-old twins have to start fulfilling it. How much patience have United got?
Still young, the pair have over a decade left at the top level, and perhaps it would be foolish for United to cast them aside.
Much may depend on whether United can reclaim the title, and how much Ferguson decides to shake things up.
Ferguson experimented by playing the energetic Rafael in centre-midfield against Blackburn, which backfired as the side lost 3-2.
But perhaps further forward is where their future lies?
Fabio came on as a left wing substitute last year and scored against Wigan, and then against Arsenal in the FA Cup Ferguson started them both on the wings.
They were United’s biggest threat, with Fabio scoring the opening goal from a Rafael cross in a 2-0 win, and it is perhaps a wonder that this has not been experimented with since.
United were linked with several right-backs in January, including Nathaniel Clyne, and Vasilas Torosidis.
If United do sign one of them, it could mean Ferguson has lost faith in the Brazilians.
Do you think the Da Silvas have futures as United players?
image: © wonker
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