Brazil have produced some legendary wingback pairings over the
years, namely the Djalma Santos-Nilton Santos, Leandro-Junior and
Cafu-Roberto Carlos combinations. And although Rafael and Fabio
have yet to make their first-team debuts at club level, their
outstanding performances during the FIFA U-17 World Cup have
suggested that they possess the potential to succeed the
aforementioned greats in the senior Seleção's No2 and No6
jerseys.
There is, nonetheless, one striking difference between Rafael and
Fabio and other wingback duos: they are identical twins. Both
right-footed, it is the latter, the Brazil U-17 captain, who
patrols the opposite flank. Not that it holds him back, as his
three goals in games against New Zealand and Korea DPR will
attest.
One man who will have been thrilled by their displays on Korean
soil is Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who will have
attack-conscious siblings at his disposal from the summer of 2008
after the English giants reached a pre-contract agreement with
Fluminense, whom they have supported since childhood.
Chatting exclusively to FIFA.com from Jeju, before they flew out to
Goyang for Brazil's final Group B game against England, Rafael and
Fabio spoke of their forthcoming move to Manchester United, their
excitement at the prospect of playing alongside Anderson and
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Premiership's recent Brazilian influx and
something their father told them when watching Cafu hold aloft the
FIFA World Cup Trophy in 2002.
FIFA.com: Where did you watch the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final?
Rafael: We were 11 years old and we watched the game at home with
our family and it amazing to see Cafu lift up the trophy. At the
time, our father said: 'One day, it will be you two - doing that.'
It is a dream of ours. Of course, our first dream is to play for
the main national team, but it's going to be really difficult for
us to achieve that. But we're training hard to fulfil our
dream.
Are you enjoying this tournament?
Fabio: Of course! We have had two big wins over New Zealand and
Korea DPR, but we know that it will get harder for us, starting
with the game against England. The standard of the teams in this
competition is extremely high, but we're confident that we have the
ability to win the tournament.
It seems as though you're having a lot of fun together, what's the
spirit like in the Brazil squad?
Rafael: We've been together a long time and we're not like
team-mates or friends, but like family. When we score a goal, the
coaches and substitutes celebrate a goal as much as the players on
the pitch - we're just so happy to be playing in this World
Cup.
Fabio: This is probably the last time this squad will be playing
together as an U-17 team. The next step up for a World Cup is the
U-20s, so it will be a long time before we get the opportunity to
play in a tournament like this again. We're all going to be
separated at the end of the tournament to go to our clubs and the
thought of that makes us a bit sad; so that's why we want to keep
on winning - to stay together.
Do you think Lucho is a good coach?
Rafael [ interrupting]: Of course, of course! Lucho hasn't been our
coach for a long time, but we think that he's an excellent coach.
He gives us a lot of confidence and is helping us to learn more
about football. He is so passionate about the team and that
inspires us.
Fabio, is it hard to play on the left hand side, when your right
foot is the stronger of the two?
Fabio: No, I am used to it now; I have had plenty of
practice...
Rafael [ interrupting and laughing]: You play all over the pitch
anyway, it doesn't matter to you!
Moving swiftly on guys, you're joining Manchester United next
summer, are you looking forward to it?
Rafael: We might be going across in January, but we're not sure.
We've already started to learn a little bit of English - and yes,
we're really looking forward to it. We're also looking forward to
playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. We met him - and he said it
would be good for us to join the club.
Fabio: Anderson is also playing for the club too, so it will be
good to see him. There seem to be a lot of Brazilian players in
England now - Lucas is at Liverpool, Geovanni and Elano are at
Manchester City, so it will be good to see them when we are in
Manchester. I'm sure they'll help us adjust to living in England.
But we're going over there to experience it for ourselves and learn
more about football too.
Although you are identical twins, what are your differences?
Rafael: Well, facially, I have a few marks around my eyes, so
that's the secret of telling us apart.
That's not good for the fans watching you in the stadium
though...
Fabio: Well, he plays on the right - and I play on the left! [They
both laugh]
But as people?...
Rafael: We're both very similar - and that's probably why we get on
so well! Fabio's more organised than me, but we're typical
brothers. We have fun, we love football - and we fight, but only
sometimes!
