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Middlesbrough FC have made it the perfect 10 in the summer transfer window after confirming the signing of Cardiff City defender Fabio da Silva.

The versatile Brazilian, 26, will provide valuable cover in both full-back positions and is the latest player to arrive through the Riverside entrance door.

But what do we need to know about the ex-Manchester United defender? Here’s a bit of background about Boro’s newest recruit.

Started out as a striker

A full-back who can also play up front? He’s the new Emilio Nsue!

Over the last few years, Fabio has showcased plenty of attacking flair - despite being a left-back by trade.

His raids over the halfway line endeared him to the Cardiff supporters, and who can forget that wonder strike he scored at the Riverside against Boro last season.

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Amazingly, that was his first Cardiff goal - and he’s only managed five goals in total since leaving Brazilian side Fluminense for Manchester United in 2008.

“I think (playing on the front foot) is in our blood, it’s in me”, Fabio told WalesOnline.

“It’s what a lot of Brazilian full-backs are like. I like to go forward and enjoy the attacks.

“I was born with it and when you grow up, when you go to the academies, the coaches would just be about being with the ball, going forward, about attacking and scoring goals. It’s natural.”

He may be a Mr Versatile in defence these days, but as a youngster it was in attack where Fabio made his name.

“When I was a junior I was a striker,” he continued.

“I’d play up front, midfield, wing, No.10, so in my mind I want to score and, like I say, it is natural with Brazilian full-backs to want to attack.

“It’s different in England for full-backs and I’ve learned more. I think I’m more solid now. I know the importance of clean sheets because it gets you results.”

Did someone say clean sheets? Yep, you should fit in alright lad.

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An in-demand youngster

By his teenage years, Fabio was playing as a defensive midfielder and a left-back for Brazilian side Fluminense, before his life was transformed.

Both he and twin brother Rafael were playing for the Brazilian giants at the 2005 Nike Premier Cup in Tokyo, and then-Manchester United Academy manager Les Kershaw was watching.

A quick phone call to Sir Alex Ferguson followed, and the rest is history.

“They reminded me of two little whippets,” Kershaw told The Guardian after watching Rafael and Fabio in action.

(Image: PA Wire)

“There are no wingers as such in Brazil and they all play a 4-2-2-2 formation. That means the full-backs have to tear up and down the wings. These two stood out straight away.

“What impressed me most was the way that, when they got knocked down, they just got straight back up again and got on with it. They were like bouncing balls - very, very quick.

“You didn’t have to be a special scout to notice them. I rang the manager and said, ‘There are twins here who are just unbelievable.’”

Señor Alex has always been very supportive of us

Man United were quick to register their interest in both Fabio and his brother, while the pair told the Mail in April 2009 that they also spoke to Real Madrid and Arsenal.

“But we chose United because they worked very hard and everyone knows them,” Fabio revealed.

‘And Señor Alex (Ferguson) has always been very supportive of us. He likes to know what people are like, both on and off the field.”

I sincerely hope Fabio refers to Aitor as Señor Karanka this season.

Forever seeing double

As mentioned, Fabio has a twin brother - Rafael - who now plays for French club Lyon.

The twins both signed for Man United in January 2008 , but were unable to play for the Red Devils until they turned 18 in July.

Fabio’s early career at Old Trafford was hampered by a shoulder injury, but he was eventually handed his senior debut against Tottenham in January 2009.

His desperation to impress was clear, so imagine the player’s disappointment when he pulled up with a calf problem only 52 minutes into his bow.

But he’d already shown enough by then to impress Ferguson.

Quizzed about Fabio and Rafael, Ferguson said: “They are identical twins - I can’t tell them apart, expect that one is married and wears a ring!”

But that’s something that didn’t faze Fabio too much during his time in Manchester.

“We used to get us mixed up, but everyone did,” Fabio said.

“We were there six years but still some of the staff couldn’t tell us apart. Sir Alex came in half time once and started given me a row but it was meant for my brother.

“Sir Alex would say: ‘Don’t sit together you two, move apart, you’re killing me!’.”

Started in the Champions League final

Rafael may have gone on to feature more often for Man United, but it was Fabio who got the nod on the biggest stage - against Barcelona in the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley.

It was a bittersweet moment for Fabio, who was chosen at right-back ahead of his twin brother.

“He (Rafael) was destroyed because he really wanted to play,” Fabio told The Independent.

“For me, of course, it was unbelievable to play in the final but I knew he was not happy.

“I knew he wanted to play. Of course it didn’t change my game. I feel for him. I felt sorry for him. I didn’t feel complete because of this, but it was still fantastic.

It was to end in disappointment for Fabio and his Man United teammates, however, as Lionel Messi inspired the Catalan giants to an emphatic 3-1 victory.

Do you know who played in goal for Barcelona that night? Yes - Boro’s very own Victor Valdes!

No regrets about leaving Man United

It was in January 2014 when Fabio’s career came to a crossroads. Should he stay and fight for his place at Man United, or move elsewhere to secure first-team football?

Fabio opted for the latter, with former United striker Ole Gunnar Solsksjaer persuading him to join Cardiff City.

“It was very difficult, a very tough point in my career,” Fabio recalled.

“I had been at Manchester United but I had been in and out, never really consistently playing games. I could never play five or six games in a row and I don’t think I ever got my confidence really going like I do now.

“There came a point I had to make a decision - do I want to follow my career or follow my brother?

“I had a chance to stay at United but I wasn’t going to play so what was the point of staying there just to keep with my brother but not play football? It was tough but I needed to do it.

“But it was leaving my brother that was the toughest because I had lived with him all my life. We joined Fluminense when we were 11 and when we moved to United we were in a big house together and we stayed there.

“We did not spend much time apart at all, we always stuck together and we did everything together – everyone at United would laugh at us but they understood.”

After a slow start in Wales, Fabio nailed down a starting berth in the Cardiff team - and has been virtually ever-present since.

Now, two years after leaving Man United, he will return as a Premier League equal with more than a point to prove.