Brazilian identical twins Fabio and Rafael are set to arrive at Manchester United ahead of schedule and will begin their careers in England on Monday.

The two full backs - first spotted by Sir Alex Ferguson in a youth competition in Hong Kong in 2005 - signed pre-contract agreements with the Premier League champions when turning 16 in July 2006.

It had been expected that their European adventure would begin at the end of the current campaign, but the two 17-year-olds have now confirmed that their family will be moving to Manchester on January 21.

It is believed that United are paying £2.6 million for each of the teenagers who will look to emulate the Neville brothers by both winning a place in Ferguson's first team.

"After eight visits to Manchester United, we will travel to come to live in England," Rafael told Globoesporte.

"In the last two years, we were there three times in three months. We trained ten days and we came back. This time, all the family are going: Father, mother and our older brother with his wife."

"I go to only train for six months, without participating in games, for Manchester United," added Fabio.

"I will be able, in the maximum, to enter in some games before turning 18 on July 9.

"We know some Brazilian players of a similar age who are playing abroad. Anderson, of the Manchester United, is our video gaming friend. We always talk with Lucas, ex-Gremio [and now of Liverpool], on MSN.

"Our biggest example is without a doubt Alexandre Pato. Who knows if we can go the same way as the Duck?"