Rafael Cabral

This name uses Portuguese naming customs. The first or maternal family name is Cabral and the second or paternal family name is Barbosa.
Rafael Cabral

Rafael with Napoli in 2014
Personal information
Full name Rafael Cabral Barbosa
Date of birth (1990-05-20) 20 May 1990
Place of birth Sorocaba, Brazil
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Napoli
Number 1
Youth career
2003–2010 Santos
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2010–2013 Santos 94 (0)
2013– Napoli 31 (0)
National team‡
2012 Brazil Olympic 1 (0)
2011– Brazil 3 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 February 2015.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 July 2013

Rafael Cabral Barbosa (born 20 May 1990), known as Rafael Cabral or simply Rafael, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Italian club Napoli as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Santos

Born in Sorocaba, Rafael joined Santos youth system in 2003. In 2010 he was promoted to the first team, but broke his right leg in a split with the centre back Domingos, who then played for Santos, being sidelined for four months.

Rafael played in the second half of the match between Santos and the New York Red Bulls in the United States. It was won by Red Bull by 3–1 but Rafael did not concede a goal, the three goals from New York were scored in the first half, when the goalkeeper was Fábio Costa.

His debut in the first team for Santos in an official game took place on 2 June 2010, the match between Santos and Cruzeiro in Mineirão, where the score was 0–0. He took the place of Felipe, who had played all previous 37 games that season.

On 20 August 2012, Rafael Cabral's right eye started bleeding when he collided with Juan Manuel Martínez in a 2012 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A fixture between Santos and Corinthians. He then recovered and was able to continue the game. Santos won the game 3–2.[1]

Napoli

On 28 June 2013, Rafael was sold from Santos to Italian side Napoli. Azzurri paid €5 million for the Brazilian goalkeeper.[2] Rafael made his UEFA Champions League debut against Arsenal in a group stage match in Naples. Napoli won the match 2-0 and Rafael was able to keep a clean sheet against the English side. Nevertheless, Napoli was unable to advance out of the group stages.

He was manager Rafael Benítez's first-choice goalkeeper for the 2014–15 season following the departure of the loaned-in Pepe Reina.[3] On 22 December, in the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana in Doha, he gave Napoli victory over Juventus by saving from Simone Padoin in sudden death at the end of a penalty shootout.[4]

International career

Rafael made his debut for Brazil against the United States on 30 May 2012, in a 4–1 win.

He was called up to represent Brazil national under-23 football team at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London but was later replaced due to injury.

Career statistics

As of 4 May 2015[5]
Club Season League Cup Continental[lower-roman 1] Other[lower-roman 2] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Santos 2010 3202020—360
2011 320—140220680
2012 250—120160530
2013 5040—230320
Total 940602806101890
Napoli 2013–14 801020—110
2014–15 230008010320
Total 3101010010430
Career total 1250703806202320
  1. ↑ Including Copa Libertadores, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
  2. ↑ Including Campeonato Paulista, FIFA Club World Cup, Recopa Sudamericana and Supercoppa Italiana.

Honours

Club

Santos
Napoli

Brazil

References

  1. ↑ "Goleiro Rafael é cortado e está fora da Olimpíada". Estadão. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Santos acerta venda do goleiro Rafael para o Napoli". Estadão. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  3. ↑ Weir, Stewart (31 August 2014). "Genoa 1-2 Napoli: Dramatic De Guzman strike seals victory". Goal.com. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Juventus 2-2 Napoli (5-6 on pens)". BBC Sport. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Rafael Cabral profile at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 May 2015.

External links

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