Rafael da Silva has reiterated that his dream is to play at the World Cup with Brazil, amid suggestions he is not interested in playing for the national team.
The 23-year-old was one of the most improved players at Manchester United last season and claimed a third Premier League title with the Red Devils.
However, he has disappeared from the Seleção squad and was overlooked for the recent Confederations Cup by new coach Luis Felipe Scolari, who opted to select just one orthodox right-back in Barcelona’s Dani Alves.
And Rafael insists the perception that he does not want to play for the Seleção, having left his homeland on his 18th birthday for Old Trafford, is completely wrong.
“People think I don"t want to play for Brazil because I left at such a young age," he told Press Association Sport. “That is not true at all.
“My brother and I left because life for any young Brazilian player is full of uncertainty. It is the same in England but we knew Manchester United represented a big chance for us.
“The people back home thought we didn"t care. We do care. I would love the chance to play for my country again.
“I don"t think about it so much because of what has happened and because there is a lot to do with my club, but the dream of playing in the World Cup for Brazil in Brazil never goes away. I would love it to happen."
Rafael was one of the most promising players in the Brazil squad last year but may struggle to force his way back into Scolari’s plans now.
His last memory of representing the national team is not a fond one as an error at the back allowed Mexico to net the opening goal in the final of the London Olympics last summer, which Brazil went on to lose 2-1 and had to settle for the silver medal.
“I always say the Olympics were the best thing that has ever happened to me," Rafael added. “It made me much stronger as a person.
“Up to the semi-final, everyone was saying good things about me and how well I was doing.
“After we lost the final it was all my fault. There always has to be someone to blame [with Brazil] – it doesn"t matter whether it is U-17s, U-19s, anyone – and I was it.
“People said lots of things but I said to myself, ‘don"t let it affect you". I am a stronger person because of it, because nothing can be like that again."
