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Manchester United are actively looking to sell Casemiro this summer with the club’s coaching staff believing his “legs have gone” following an abysmal campaign for the midfielder.
The 32-year-old enjoyed a stellar debut season in English football following his blockbuster £70 million transfer from Real Madrid.
Casemiro was instrumental in United’s Carabao Cup success – producing the club’s first trophy in six years – and was the beating heart of a side who ended with a strong 3rd place in the finish in the league. He was seen as the premier defensive midfielder in the Premier League and a key figure to build around moving forward.
Yet, fast forward twelve months and the vast majority of United fans would be happy to see the Brazilian leave Old Trafford this summer, with a series of performances more reminiscent of a League One player last season still painfully fresh in the mind.
How quickly things change in football.
These sentiments appear to be mirrored by Old Trafford officials, however, who Football Insider reveal are “willing to sell…at a ‘huge’ loss this summer” as they seek to overhaul Erik ten Hag’s midfield unit.
Sources at the club reveal Casemiro’s representatives are in “regular contact” with clubs in the Saudi Pro League – likely the only destination willing to match (or exceed) the wage packet the Brazilian currently enjoys at United.
Having been signed for £70 million on a four-year deal, Casemiro accounts for a £15 million-a-year hit from a financial fair play perspective. As such, with two years remaining on his contract, United would need to sell the midfielder for a fee in excess of £30 million to log a positive FFP boost, rather than a loss if sold for less.
There had been a school of thought that Casemiro’s performances were a product of Ten Hag’s suicidal tactics last season, which saw the defensive midfielder left as a sole pivot in midfield, as his two other partners push high up the pitch to initiate a press.
This led to Casemiro, or Sofyan Amrabat and Scott McTominay in his stead, being constantly overwhelmed by opposition runners in midfield.
Perhaps, if Ten Hag was to employ a more pragmatic midfield structure, as he did in the successful FA Cup final triumph over Manchester City, then Casemiro may be able to regain some of the form he so aptly demonstrated in his first season at Old Trafford.
However, sources have revealed to Football Insider that the United coaching staff believe the Brazilian’s “legs have gone” and he can “no longer cope with the pace of the Premier League.”
There is no more damning indictment than the assessment of the people who see you every day and, if they believe your time at the top level is done, it’s a safe bet that your race is run.
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