Manchester United defender Fabio da Silva has said that he is extremely excited at the prospect of being able to join a club like Benfica, even though it will be only on a loan deal till the end of the season.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson revealed a few months back that he plans to loan out a number of high profile players in order to help them with getting more experience. Fabio Da Silva and Federico Macheda are expected to be part of the players going out on loan. Even though Rafael Da Silva has been able to get regular first-team football at Manchester United, Fabio Da Silva has struggled largely due to the presence of French defender Patrice Evra.

However, with the Frenchman coming to the end of his career, it is expected that Fabio would be the replacement. Prior to becoming a first-team regular at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson thinks that it is necessary for a player to get some first-team experience elsewhere. Ferguson is also thought to be interested in signing Benfica midfielder Gaitan. It is thought that Manchester United are looking at the possibility of bringing down the transfer fee by sending Fabio Da Silva on a loan deal till the end of the next season.

“Fabio is excited to go. It is very settled, and I think will be good for everyone. He wants to make the move. I’ve been in Lisbon for four or five days and loved it, it’s a very beautiful city, and since Fabio will be happy here I am also going to be,” said Fabio Da Silva’s mother Laurinda in an interview to O Jogo. Rafael Da Silva, though, will stay at Manchester United after he has been able to establish himself in the first-team.