Manchester United right-back Rafael could be among up to five misfiring stars to leave the club with new manager Louis van Gaal set to wield the axe before transfer deadline day, according to Team Talk. Marouane Fellaini, Nani, Anderson and Javier Hernandez have also reportedly been told they can leave this summer. Van Gaal revealed in his first official press conference as manager of United in the middle of July that he would use his side's pre-season tour of the United States to examine his squad before sanctioning any more arrivals or departures. And, following the 3-1 win over Liverpool last Monday, that time has passed. Now, according to the Daily Mail, the former Netherlands manager has held talks with Rafael, Fellaini, Nani, Hernandez and Anderson and told them they are deemed surplus to requirements, and no longer have a future at Old Trafford. The quintet have reportedly been told to instruct their representatives to find them new clubs for the 2014-15 season before the transfer window slams shut in a little over three weeks. While Fellaini, Nani, Hernandez and Anderson were obvious candidates for departures at the Theatre of Dreams, seeing Rafael's name thrown into the mix comes as something of a shock, especially considering van Gaal doesn't exactly have an embarrassment of defensive options following the exits of Rio Ferdinand, Alexander Buttner, Patrice Evra and club-captain Nemanja Vidic. News that the Brazilian could be considered as extraneous is all the more of a surprise when you also take into account van Gaal is planning to implement a new 3-5-2 formation at the club this season that favours attacking defenders such as Rafael. The fullback's twin brother Fabio was sold earlier this year however and now Rafael could follow.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
