United legend explains how surprise duo convinced him to hang up his boots

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has revealed how Brazilian duo Rafael and Fabio convinced him that it was time to hang up his boots. The English right-back rose through the ranks at Old Trafford and was part of the fabled Class of ’92 that took the world by storm under Sir Alex Ferguson. The legendary Scottish manager drew on the Red Devils’ illustrious history of promoting youth and built a team that blew the Premier League away. Neville was a first-team regular for the English giants when they secured a historic treble in the 1998/99 campaign. The English right-back went on to retain his place in the starting XI as Sir Alex rebuilt his team over the years, before picking up the armband in 2005 following Roy Keane’s departure. He was heavily involved in United’s Champions League win in 2008 as well. Neville ultimately retired in the summer of 2011, having registered seven goals and 49 assists in 602 appearances across competitions for United. The Englishman won 21 trophies with the Red Devils, including eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, and two Champions League trophies. Gary Neville: Trophies won with United CompetitionYear/Season of win Premier League1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2008–09 FA Cup1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04 Football League Cup2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10 FA Community Shield1996, 1997, 2008 UEFA Champions League1998–99, 2007–08 Intercontinental Cup1999 FIFA Club World Cup2008 Source: Wikipedia. After a failed managerial stint with Valencia, Neville has made a successful foray into football punditry. The iconic full-back, who spent his entire career with United, recently shed light on the circumstances surrounding his retirement. United’s succession plans for Neville Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville revealed how the arrival of the Da Silva twins convinced him that it was time to retire. He said: “They [Rafael and Fabio] were the boys who convinced me that my Man Utd career was over.” “I always remember in training watching how sharp they were to the ball. Watching how quick they were to the tackle, the ability to go and take the ball off wide players and wingers, Rafael was the one taking my position.” “I remember him just coming in and sort of ratting and aggressive, and I’m thinking, ‘I’m nowhere near’. This is what I was.” Da Silva brothers failed to live up to expectations Sir Alex Ferguson brought Rafael and Fabio to Old Trafford from Fluminense in January 2008, perhaps in preparation for Neville’s eventual retirement. The Brazilian twins generated much excitement among fans, who were enticed by their spirit and tenacity. Rafael eventually became the first-choice right-back in the Scottish manager’s final years at Old Trafford. He would go on to register five goals and 14 assists in 170 games for the English giants, winning three Premier League titles among a host of other silverware. Fabio, who was Patrice Evra’s understudy, struggled with injuries, making 56 appearances for the club and winning one Premier League title. The Brazilian twins were offloaded following the arrival of former manager Louis van Gaal, with Fabio moving to Cardiff City in the summer of 2014 and Rafael joining Lyon a year later. Final Thoughts Sir Alex signed the Da Silva twins to lay down succession plans for an iconic servant of the club. While the move was not entirely successful, fans will fondly remember the Brazilian duo for their combative nature, and Rafael for that famous goal in the 2-1 comeback win over Liverpool in the 2012/13 season. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.