The less successful of the Brazilian Da Silva twins Fabio has been linked with a move to Portugal.
There were rumours that the defender could move back to his home country Brazil but it seems a move to Portuguese side Sporting CP could happen this summer.
However the club does not want to bear the cost of the transfer. They are reportedly asking the player to buy out his remaining obligations to Championship side Boro so they could get him on a free transfer. The former Manchester United left back is set to exit Boro after their relegation from the top flight.
The player was reported to be on his way to Belo Horizonte club Cruzeiro but he seems he would prefer a chance to remain in a European top side. He had moved with his identical twin Raphael to Manchester United from Fluminense in 2008. The then 18-year olds were acquired by the top Premier League side as they could not separate the boys at their age, despite having interest in just Fabio.
Fabio and Raphael developed at Old Trafford but it was Raphael that enjoyed a better career. Both defenders looked the same, were defenders and were inseparable. Rafael became the understudy to Gary Neville and flourished while Fabio was shipped off to Cardiff in 2013 as Patrice Evra remained strong in his role. Fabio had earlier gone on loan to QPR and his career went downhill from there. Boro offered him a lifeline but it seems the part has ended with the slump to the second tier.
Raphael remained at United until the 2015/16 but had to move to Ligue 1 giant Olympique Lyon as he dropped in the pecking order in Louis van Gaal’s term. He is going strong there and would continue in the forthcoming season.