Rafael up for Ronaldinho test
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Chris Smalling admits he expects to be star-struck when he pitches up at Old Trafford but is determined not to be nervous around his new Manchester United team-mates.
The Fulham defender's meteoric rise from Maidstone to one of the world's biggest clubs was sealed in January when Sir Alex Ferguson paid a significant sum to lure him from Craven Cottage, while allowing him to stay in the capital until the end of the season.
Smalling, who starts for England U21s on Wednesday night against Greece, is touted by many to be a full international in the future.
Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand is a world away from that which he occupied just 18 months ago, when he was earning £5 an hour as a waiter while studying for his A-Levels.
While his move to United has come sooner than anyone could have anticipated, Smalling concedes there was only ever going to be one answer once Ferguson came calling.
"It has been a whirlwind and things are happening very quickly," admitted Smalling. "It is very exciting.
"My move to United came out of the blue. I was just concentrating on doing well for Fulham and linking up with the Under 21s, then suddenly it came up and it is a fantastic opportunity for me.
"When you have one of the biggest clubs in the world even considering you will be good enough for them, it is a massive compliment.
"I think at times I'll be star-struck, but I'm not nervous. When I started to play for Fulham I got a few nerves, but I've played now and have started to get used to it."
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Young Reds right-back Rafael would relish the opportunity to test himself against Ronaldinho again, and he’s keen to repay the faith Sir Alex Ferguson has shown in him.
The Brazilian marked his fellow countryman at the San Siro – a challenge that, while undoubtedly tough, the fearless 19-year-old was never going to shirk. Now, with the more experienced Wes Brown out of action after sustaining a foot injury against Wolves, Rafael is vying with Gary Neville for a place in United’s back four on Wednesday, and another crack at halting Ronaldinho.
“It was a great privilege for me,” Rafael tells United Review about being selected to start in the 3-2 first-leg win in Italy. “It made me feel that the manager really trusts me by giving me the opportunity to play in this type of match. It’s a great feeling knowing that the manager believes in my ability to play at this level.”Injury had kept Rafael out of action at the start of this season, which was frustrating for the Reds’ no.21 after a promising debut campaign. Approaching the end of November 2009, his only appearance was as a midfielder in the 2-0 Carling Cup win over Barnsley. But he’s since made 12 outings and looks an increasingly integral member of the first-team squad.
“Last year I had a lot of good opportunities to play in the first-team, so I was frustrated earlier this season to be injured because I thought that I would have a big chance to try to play in the team a lot this year,” he adds. “But now I have recovered and I am back playing, I feel in good shape.”
He’ll have to be in very good shape if he's picked up against Ronaldinho at Old Trafford but you can bet he’ll give his all - and he’ll be that little bit wiser for his San Siro experience.