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If it wasn’t for Fabio and Rafael da Silva’s mum the Manchester United twins would not be preparing for a Champions League final. Instead, they would have been be a pair of trophy-less Gunners.

It has been an intriguing season-long battle for the right-back berth between the 20-year-old Brazilians and there’s only a place for on the brothers at Wembley tomorrow night.

However, on the eve of the Champions League final, the pair said they almost joined Arsenal in 2008 and can only thank the advice of their mother for going to Manchester.

“My mum was adamant,” Fabio explains.

“We could not turn our backs to the club that took us on when we were only 11, even though they then refused to allow us to play in the first team when the contract with United was signed.”

Fabio was referring to the deal their old club Fluminense had struck with Man United and, by reneging on the offer, they would have cut the club out of negotiations.

The brothers signed for United in February 2007 but were only allowed to register until they turned 18 on 9 July 2008.