Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that full-back Fabio da Silva will spend next season on loan to gain more first-team experience.

The 21-year-old, who started for the Red Devils in last season's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona, has made just one Premier League appearance in 2012.

He will always be compared to twin brother Rafael, also a full-back, who has had a much more consistent run of games in the first team.

Ferguson told United Review: "I hope that Fabio will develop the same way as his twin and, to help him, he will go out on loan next season to give him concentrated first-team experience.

"He understands the value of playing regularly at a higher level than we can give him at the moment."

United regular Patrice Evra has kept Fabio out of Fergie's plans, while he has also suffered a number of injury problems.