Former Manchester United defender Rafael da Silva has claimed that Steven Gerrard “hated” him and his brother Fabio.
The da Silva brothers joined United at the same time in the summer of 2008, with Fabio leaving in January 2014. Rafael would depart in the summer of 2015.
Whilst Rafael featured over 100 times for United, his brother was used less often. However, both defenders would come up against Gerrard’s Liverpool.
Gerrard captained the Reds between 2003 and 2014, and his clashes against United were always special affairs.
The Liverpool midfielder came out on top against the club’s bitter rivals 10 times out of 30 games and scored eight goals. Two of those came from the spot in a famous 3-0 victory at Old Trafford in 2014.
Rafael – Gerrard “hated us“
Speaking to The Athletic, Rafael explained that he was told by Wayne Rooney that Gerrard wasn’t a fan of the twins.
He said: “Wayne Rooney told us that Steven Gerrard hated us.
“He said that Gerrard told him on international duty, ‘Those twins, they are p****s!
“We never did anything to him but wear a different shade of red. I guess that’s all it takes.
“And to be honest, I understood what he meant. The feeling was mutual.”
Rafael started eight times against Liverpool during his United career, coming out on the winning side on five occasions.
He scored a 51st-minute goal against the Reds in a 2-1 win at Anfield in 2012, which saw him curl the ball into the top corner with his right foot.
In that season, the Brazilian featured 26 times – the most in a season during his entire career at the club – as United lifted the Premier League trophy in what was Sir Alex Ferguson‘s last campaign in charge.
Rafael moved to Lyon in 2015, where he spent five years before joining Turkish Super Lig side Istanbul Basaksehir.
Fabio, meanwhile, signed for Cardiff City in 2014 before spells at Middlesbrough and current club Nantes.
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