Former Manchester United defender posts farewell message on Instagram, no mention of Louis van Gaal

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Former Manchester United defender Rafael has taken to social media and posted a emotional farewell message to the club’s supporters after joining Ligue 1 giants Olympique Lyonnias on a four-year-deal.

News of the Brazilian defender’s transfer to last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up was confirmed by BBC Sport on Monday evening as his six-and-a-half years in Manchester has come to an end.

The 25-year-old made over 100 league appearances for the Red Devils after making his debut in the 2008-09 campaign and departs the club having fallen out of favour with current boss Louis van Gaal.

His transfer had been expected ever since he was excluded from the club’s squad for their pre-season tour of the United States and coupled with the arrival of Italian international Matteo Darmian earlier in the summer, it would have resulted in the Brazilian being the club’s third-choice right-back at the club this season.

Rafael, who won three Premier League winner’s medals with the Red Devils penned a lengthy letter to the club’s supporters via his official Instagram account on Monday evening and praised the fans, former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, however, there was no mention of either David Moyes or van Gaal.

I want to thank Manchester United fans for all the love during those 8 years. Since I signed with the club I lived incredible moments, after all it was 8 years wearing the shirt of one of the biggest clubs of the world. Thank you Manchester United FC. I also want to thank all employees who always treated me with great affection and gave me greater attention. Thank you United Kingdom, I learned a lot in this country, as a player, and no doubt as a human being, lessons that I will keep for the rest of my life. Thank you Sir Alex Ferguson for always believing in my work and for all the doors that you opened up to me. Now it’s a new path, a new challenge, God bless me! Quero agradecer aos torcedores do Manchester United por todo o carinho durante esses 8 anos. Desde que assinei com o clube vivi momentos incríveis, afinal de contas foram 8 anos vestindo a camisa de um dos maior clubes do mundo. Obrigado Manchester United FC. Também agradeço aos vários funcionários que sempre me trataram com muito carinho e dando a maior atenção do mundo. Obrigado Reino Unido, aprendi muito nesse país, como jogador, e sem dúvidas como ser humano, aprendizado que vou levar para toda vida. Obrigado Sir Alex Ferguson por sempre ter acreditado no meu trabalho e por todas as portas que me abriu. Agora é um novo caminho, um novo desafio, que Deus me abençoe!

A photo posted by Rafael Da Silva (@orafa2) on

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