Casemiro is showing fans and pundits exactly why Manchester United splashed a whopping £70 million on his acquisition from Real Madrid this summer. Many raised their concerns over United’s spending on signing a ’30-year-old’ Casemiro as they felt the club needed a younger option like Frenkie de Jong in that position. As the Barcelona midfielder persistently refused to come to Old Trafford, the Red Devils went ahead and snapped up Casemiro who was looking for a new challenge after winning his fifth Champions League title at Real last season.
While his quality wasn’t being doubted, but United came under bashing from their own fans and former players for taking a temporary solution in Casemiro than a long term option of someone like De Jong. But the Brazilian has transformed his new side significantly, striking a perfect chord with his midfield partner Christian Eriksen. And pro-turned-pundits Jamie Redknapp and Gary Neville, who too had scrutinized the 30-year-old’s move, are now lauding his influence at the club.
Redknapp, Neville run out of words after Casemiro delivers another brilliant performance
Casemiro was once again at the heart of Manchester United’s 1-0 win over West Ham, as he has been since starting regularly for the club. The midfielder accumulated a whopping 9 ball recoveries, 5 accurate long balls, 4 ground duels won, 4 aerial duels won, 2 tackles and a chance created in his 90 minutes against the Hammers. Impressed with the former Real star’s another great display, former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports:
“You have to be impressed [by Casemiro]. I have looked at United’s midfield for so long and never really seen any combinations or a midfield you would be scared to play against. What he has done is brought so much authority to this team, calm, quality, know-how, knowing when to press, knowing when to intercept, how many times have we seen him just doing that, picking people’s pockets and then playing the right pass.
“You can see other teams looking at him like, “wow that’s Casemiro there” – he’s got a little bit of spike but he knows where to be. They haven’t had that in midfield. Gary [Neville] played with magnificent midfielders at this club. For a long time I have looked at United’s midfield and thought it is so disjointed, there is no one that can do that job of getting hold of the ball and make the right pass. I thought he was excellent today. Everything he does he makes it look so simple. He played for Real Madrid for so long he knows the game inside-out.”
Former Manchester United captain and full-back Gary Neville too hailed the midfielder, claiming he is ‘improving’ players around him as well. Casemiro has struck a brilliant partnership with Eriksen, which has helped Bruno Fernandes flourish in his attacking duties. Neville added:
“Casemiro is [improving players]. None of Eriksen, Casemiro, Fernandes are quick or what you would call true defensive midfielders but you think of that midfield three he played in at Madrid with [Toni] Kroos and [Luka] Modric. Then look at him alongside Eriksen and Fernandes, Kroos and Modric are far better players but there are similarities to what we are seeing here in the style.
“Those three ruled Europe for many years, playing in the biggest games and controlled them but there is something similar to what Casemiro is seeing here to what he seen at Real Madrid. The silkiness and smoothness that gives United a better platform. The big games, City away they struggled a little bit but City come here two weeks after the restart and it will be really interesting to see if Ten Hag goes with that three. That will be the real test.”
Casemiro has truly uplifted United, and is already topping the charts for many of the metrics such as tackles and duels won for the club, despite missing the start of the season. At such rate, he can well steer the club to a top four finish, which after their disastrous start to the season was looking unrealistic. Erik ten Hag too shares the credit for his £70 million’s midfielder’s exploits, given the manager inducted him in his system cleverly and not gave it a rush.