FABIO: CARDIFF CITY CAREER EXAMINED

Brazilian fullback Fabio da Silva spent the 2012/13 season on loan at London team Queens Park Rangers (QPR) while he was still a Manchester United. It was his first time away from the Red Devils having spent some years at Old Trafford on the back of his move from Fluminensein his native Brazil. Fabio da Silva signed his first professional contract at Manchester United.

After one year at QPR, Fabio returned to Manchester United, but he hardly got playing time under new manager David Moyes. He made just three appearances under Moyes before being sold to Welsh club Cardiff  City. His last Manchester United appearance came during the home defeat to Welsh team Swansea City in the FA Cup third round in January 2014. Fabio da Silva came on for the injured Rio Ferdinand on 75 minutes before he was sent off three minutes later for a foul on Jose Canas with the scores at 1-1. Swansea City then scored on the stroke of full-time to ensure that Manchester United exited the FA Cup  at the third round stage for the second time in 28 attempts.

Fabio da Silva made his Cardiff City debut during the win over Norwich City which was the first victory under the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer managerial era at the Welsh club. Afterwards, he became a regular in the starting XI under the watchful eyes of the Manchester United legend.

Cardiff City didn’t survive the Premier League at the end of the 2013/14 season as they suffered relegation to the English Championship. Fabio da Silva remained a regular in the Cardiff City XI at the start of the new season in the Championship. Cardiff City struggled at the start of the new Championship season and Solskjaer was sacked. The Welsh team appointed Russell Slade in the place of the sacked Solskjaer.

Fabio da Silva spent two-and-half years at Cardiff City before he signed for Middlesbrough in the summer of 2016.