Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is in his best form since joining Old Trafford in 2022 in a deal worth £70m. So why would the club let him go now?
The veteran Brazil international, who turns 34 later this month, turned back a few years when he set up Matheus Cunha’s goal with a sublime no-look pass after heading in Manchester United’s first goal in another dramatic win over Fulham on Sunday.
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher called him a “completely different player”, while Paul Merson hailed his influence alongside Coby Mainu and Bruno Fernandes in his recent resurgence under Michael Carrick.
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Casemiro produced a magical moment with a no-look assist for Matheus Cunha in Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Fulham at Old Trafford.
Casemiro has started all three games under Carrick, but he officially announced his impending departure last month while Ruben Amorim was still in charge. United had a 12-month extension option, but it was decided that Casemiro would be allowed to leave as they were due to overhaul their midfield in the summer.
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Michael Carrick admits Casemiro’s departure from Manchester United was decided before he became head coach
Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett explained the club’s stance after fans called for a U-turn on the decision.
“Short-term approaches have gotten clubs into trouble before.”
“Manchester United have decided not to take a short-term approach to contracts or managers, which is what has gotten them into trouble in the past. It has left them with a number of big players on big salaries who are not part of their plans.”
“Casemiro is flying right now. He was the man of the match against Fulham. I can understand why a lot of fans are saying, ‘We’re looking for a midfielder, can we let Casemiro go?’
“He turns 34 at the end of this month. He’s one of the highest earners at the club, on £325,000 a week, but Man United know that can’t last forever. He’s playing at his best right now, but they need to plan for the long term.”
“Casemiro will leave in the summer. They have made a big farewell video and there is no going back.”
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Casemiro thanked Manchester United fans after announcing he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. Video credit: Manchester United
Was it the right decision to let Casemiro leave?
Paul Merson of Sky Sports:
“I think so. He’s doing great and playing alongside Koby Mainu and Bruno Fernandes makes a difference.”
“He has to move on. He’s 34 and before you know it he’s 35. He was a top player. If Fernandes goes forward, he has a lot of worthless sticks because he doesn’t have the legs to play alone in midfield.”
“Mynu helped that a lot, as is common sense with Michael Carrick. But we’re talking about the future of Man United and it’s right for them to do what they have to do and let him go.”
Manchester United’s window-by-window approach: Next up is midfield
Rob Dorsett of Sky Sports News:
“I think Manchester United will focus the bulk of their spending in the summer on midfield.
“Brighton’s Carlos Baleva is on their list, Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson, they like Adam Wharton, and Wolves’ Joao Gomez is also on the list, so there are plenty of options. They might do two.”
“Every window, they prioritize areas of the team. It’s a very data-driven approach. Last summer’s priority was to score more goals, which is why they pumped £280m into three forward players.”
“Now they want to resolve the next imbalance and are going to work on their midfield. The impression is that Anderson is at the top of the list, but we’re talking over £100m.”
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Jamie Carragher claimed he ‘walked away from football’ two years ago, admits he was wrong about Casemiro
What do the statistics show?
Laura Hunter on Sky Sports:
The logic here is clear. Casemiro is an aging midfielder whose stamina has been repeatedly questioned over the past 18 months. Part of the blame probably lies with former manager Ruben Amorim. It was clear to many that Casemiro no longer had the leg strength to be the centerpiece of the engine room. The rebalance with Koby Mainu proved invaluable.
Casemiro managed Manchester United’s midfield against Fulham.
But clearly he still has a lot to offer Man United between now and the end of the season. Maybe it exceeds that. However, time is against him and a readjustment of personnel costs is necessary if the club wants to chase top targets in the summer.
Nevertheless, Casemiro’s value can still be highlighted by his numbers. He has scored the same number of goals in the Premier League this season as Fernandes (5) and is also matched by Benjamin Sesco. His aerial ability makes him a big threat from set-pieces, with four of his goals coming from headers.
Defensively, he made the most tackles (52) of any Manchester United player and regained the second most possessions (51) in midfield after Fernandes. Only Patrick Daugt has more duels won (107). And his quality on the ball is undeniable.
This recent turnaround will ensure he gets a big send-off in May. But before that, he is proving to be a very resourceful and reliable asset to Carrick.
