United Defender Refutes Claim Over Summer Exit

Manchester United defender Rafael has denied claims he will make up part of David Moyes summer overhaul at Old Trafford by committing his immediate future to the Premier League champions.

The Brazilian full-back has been in and out of the United first team this term due to injury but was reinstalled by Moyes as first choice at right back for the League Cup tie with Sunderland and the Premier league win over Swansea City.

But comments attributed to the player's agent claimed that both Rafael and twin-brother Fabio will leave the club at the end of the season in the summer transfer window as United stage a rebuild of their squad after a disappointing start to the 2013/14 season.

"I do not know anything about these rumours," agent Cassiano Pereira told Calciomercato. "I think that is just media speculation.

"At the moment I can say that they will remain in Manchester until the end of the season, but in summer it is very likely that they can go."

But Rafael, who has two-and-a half years to run on his current United contract wrote on his Instagram page: "I'm not leaving".

Rafael penned a four-year extension to his deal at Old Trafford in the summer of 2012, keeping him at the club until 2016 and given his central role in the United first team this season when available, his departure would represent a huge surprise next summer.

Moyes has been linked with making drastic changes to his United squad with reports suggesting he has been handed £200m to spark a change of direction in the club's fortunes.

Among those players linked with a departure is Brazilian midfielder Anderson, who is expected to join Fiorentina on loan in the January transfer window with a view to a permanent move while Federico Macheda is also expected to complete his exit.

Anders Lindegaard, Alex Buttner, Nani, Ashley Young and Javier Hernandez are among the players to have been linked with an imminent departure also however Moyes' greatest concern surrounds trying to add to his squad in order to salvage the current campaign.

United are currently 11 points adrift of leaders Arsenal and five behind fourth place Liverpool and travel to Chelsea this weekend with the realistic prospect of falling further behind.