Rafael Facing Fight to Win over Louis Van Gaal at Manchester United

Louis van Gaal insisted in the summer he would take his time to judge the players he inherited. Some, like Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick, he knew he liked already.

Others, like Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini, seem to be winning him over. Danny Welbeck, Shinji Kagawa and Javier Hernandez didn't make the cut at all. 

Rafael, though, doesn't fit into any of those categories. Not yet, anyway. He's still at Old Trafford, but he's been injured for much of Van Gaal's time at the club. It's led to a feeling that the Brazilian full-back hasn't yet fully convinced his new manager.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

He missed most of the pre-season tour of the United States as Van Gaal was getting to know his squad. His appearances off the bench against Newcastle on Boxing Day and Tottenham two days later were his first since starting against Chelsea in October. 

As the only natural right-back in the squad, he might expect to be in the team whenever he's available. But Van Gaal revealed before Christmas Rafael was fit for the game against Liverpool only to be left out of the 18. The Dutchman was straight to the point when pushed about the 24-year-old's omission, saying simply, "I have to select."

Van Gaal has said repeatedly this season he wants to coach his players "in the head and not just in the legs." In form, like he was throughout 2012-13, Rafael is one of the best attacking full-backs in the world.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

But he occasionally slips back to the Rafael of 2010. The rash, impulsive Rafael who got himself sent off against Van Gaal's Bayern Munich in the quarter-final of the Champions League. You imagine the Dutchman hasn't forgotten that particular moment.

Rafael has the ability to thrive in Van Gaal's system, where the width is supplied by the wing-backs and any defensive deficiencies are hidden by the three centre-backs covering behind. 

But since he's been out the team, Van Gaal has found Antonio Valencia to be a viable alternative. The Ecuadorian is almost the anti-Rafael—steady if somewhat unspectacular. 

Clive Rose/Getty Images

There is still an opportunity for Rafael to win over Van Gaal. Fit again, he has the second half of the season to show that he deserves to stay at Old Trafford beyond the summer. 

Van Gaal hasn't been afraid to cull players who were central to his predecessors' regimes, and Rafael's future is far from secure.

At his best, Rafael—quick, direct and energetic—is the type of player Van Gaal should enjoy. But it's up to the Brazilian to show him that before it's too late.

Quotes obtained firsthand.