Why Newcastle should sign former Man United star Rafael
According to The Sun (6 September; Page 63), Newcastle United have been credited with an interest in Lyon right-back Rafael, with manager Steve Bruce keen to bolster his backline before the summer window slams shut in October.
Premier League newcomers Fulham are also understood to be monitoring the 30-year-old, who previously spent seven seasons at Man United. Rafael is also said to eyeing up a return to English football. (h/t Sun)
Profile
Rafael started his youth career with Fluminense in his homeland before being scouted by Man United, who agreed on a deal with the Brazilian club to sign the full-back in 2008.
The defender made his professional debut for the Red Devils during the 2018-19 season and gradually went on to establish himself as the club’s first-choice right-back following the retirement of Gary Neville.
Rafael’s trophy-laden years at Old Trafford saw him win three Premier League titles, the League Cup and the Community Shield. The 30-year-old registered a total of 170 appearances across all competitions for United, scoring 5 goals and providing 15 assists.
Having fallen out of favour under Louis van Gaal, Rafael left United to join Lyon in the summer of 2015 and has since made 139 appearances for the Ligue 1 giants in all competitions. The former Brazilian international has found regular minutes hard to come by in France over the past couple of seasons, starting only 20 league fixtures over that period.
Fabio could be exactly what Newcastle need
Newcastle have already completed some smart business in the summer window so far. Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser have been roped in to bolster the forward line, with the latter joining the Magpies on a free transfer. Jeff Hendrick also joined the ranks as a free agent earlier this summer following the expiry of his contract at Burnley.
Hence, it’s easy to figure out from those deals that Newcastle are focussing on strengthening their squad with proven Premier League stars.
Having already made new additions to the midfield and attack, the Magpies should now turn their attention to the backline. Steve Bruce’s side conceded 58 goals in the PL last term en route to their 13th-place finish, so it goes without saying that they need some reshuffling at the back.
The right-back slot is among several areas at the back that need to be sorted out this summer. DeAndre Yedlin missed as many as 14 games last season due to injuries, starting only 10 times in the Premier League. It has also been reported that there is a 90% chance that the United States international will quit Newcastle this summer.
Regardless of what the future holds for Yedlin, Newcastle should look for some upgrades on the right-hand side of the backline. Emil Krafth was quite disappointing in his debut season at St.James’ Park last term, while a genuine attempt needs to be made to move away from Javier Manquillo’s mediocrity.
To put things into perspective, Newcastle United should target Rafael this summer as he has the experience, quality and the profile to come through the door as a genuine upgrade on the club’s existing options at right-back.
The Brazilian’s proven track record in England makes him a low-risk option for Steve Bruce’s side while he would also add some much-needed winning mentality to a side that looked short of inspiration last time around.
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Verdict
Rafael is more than capable of contributing at both ends of the pitch, as evident from his numbers at Man United and Lyon. At 30, he still has plenty to offer at the top level. With the player’s contract at Lyon set to expire in 2021, the Magpies should fancy their chances of nabbing him on the cheap this summer.
Having said that, Newcastle offering the Brazilian an escape route to return to the Premier League would be a shrewd piece of business.
