Jamie Carragher says Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is now a “completely different player” as he approaches his farewell to Old Trafford at the end of the season.
The veteran Brazil international, who turns 34 later this month, rewinded a few years as Manchester United secured another dramatic win against Fulham on Sunday. Casemiro headed Manchester United’s first goal before setting up Matheus Cunha’s goal with a no-look pass.
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Casemiro produced a magical moment in Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Fulham at Old Trafford with a no-look assist for Matheus Cunha.
Casemiro, who has started all three games under Carrick, announced his departure to Old Trafford last month, ending his four-year spell with the club. Carragher famously criticized Casemiro after Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in May 2024, suggesting the midfielder was no longer good enough to compete at the highest level.
“Casemiro must know tonight that he only has three games left at the top level,” Carragher said at the time.
“With the next two league games and the cup final, he’ll think I need to go to MLS or Saudi Arabia.
“This has to stop because we are looking at one of the greatest players of our time. I will always remember this quote: ‘Leave football before football leaves you.’ Football has left him. At this top level, he needs to put an end to his work at this level and move on.”
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Free to watch: Premier League highlights of Manchester United vs Fulham
Carragher says Casemiro deserves a lot of credit for his comeback after the five-time Champions League winner’s apparent comeback.
“It’s now fair to say the football hasn’t left him,” Carragher said in extra-time on Super Sunday.
“If you think about what he has done not only at home against Fulham but also in the Premier League this season, you think about what he did last week away against Arsenal and at home against Manchester City.
“If Casemiro wants to fight back against me, he has every right to say, ‘Leave the pundits before the pundits leave!'” He could definitely win one of them back. He looks like a completely different player because of him.
“He looks like a different player physically as well. Even when I say that, when you look at him, he looked like an old man nearing the end of his time as a player.”
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Gary Neville reflects on Manchester United’s dramatic late win over Fulham at Old Trafford
“And he looks completely different physically, whether he’s let himself go a little bit or just become super professional.”
Casemiro steps out in style with Manchester United
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Manchester United take an early lead against Fulham with Casemiro’s header
Analysis by William Vitibili of Sky Sports:
“Casemiro is one goal away from coming back from his highest-scoring season in league history.
“He announced he would be leaving at the end of the season and is in the middle of his farewell tour after a number of years of unwinding under Michael Carrick.
“His opening goal set the tone and his no-look assist for Matheus Cunha’s goal reflected the confidence he was playing with. Carrick spoke of his ‘presence’ since taking over as caretaker manager and how important his experience is.
“The five-time Champions League winner’s reputation has taken a bit of a hit since arriving here, but the Brazil international continues to remain in the good graces of his coaches.
Casemiro managed Manchester United’s midfield against Fulham.
“Now, as he approaches his 34th birthday, the idea that he should have been part of Manchester United’s plans beyond this season is misguided. But on the flip side, he remains a key cog in Carrick’s machine alongside Coby Mainu.”
“Casemiro is often featured as the anchor of midfield, but that owes much to his time at Real Madrid, when he was the famous water bearer for Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
“But for Man United, he has proven to be a more complete package, showing a willingness to break lines with his forward passes, scoring seven goals in the final third against Fulham.
“Beyond his contribution to goals, suddenly Casemiro seems to be a player United can trust again. This is a callback to the player Man United signed from Real in 2022 in a deal worth £70 million.”
“There has been a lot of talk this summer about a revamp of United’s midfield, but the hole that Casemiro is leaving will grow bigger with each passing day and will need to be filled.”
