Despite what has turned into a pretty miserable season both for him and Manchester United as a whole, this Red Devil‘s almighty reputation still precedes him.
While his time at Old Trafford looks destined to end with more of a whimper than a roar – the £70 million signing is expected to be one of the first names on the chopping block during Manchester United‘s first summer under INEOS control – Casemiro will forever be remembered as one of the finest defensive midfielders of his generation by the majority.
This is, after all, a five-time Champions League-winning Real Madrid icon. And while Casemiro’s form has dropped off a cliff this term, the veteran Brazilian will always retain a special place in the heart of many Man United supporters, with that stellar 2022/23 campaign one of the finest individual seasons of any Red Devils midfielder in recent years.
Vinicius Souza, the Sheffield United enforcer, still regards Casemiro as the pinnacle when it comes to ‘number sixes’, even if the 32-year-old‘s performances in recent months paint a rather sorry sight of a footballer creaking horribly to a halt.
Casemiro looks set for Manchester United exit
“You know, for me, (Casemiro is) the best player in the world,” the adoring Souza tells the Premier League’s official YouTube channel.
“Yeah definitely (I model my game on him). For me Casemiro, is the best midfield player in the world, in the tackle, everything. OK, I like (Manchester City’s) Rodri with the ball. But, in that position with the tackles and (being a) strong guy, Casemiro is the best.”
One can only assume, then, that Souza has not watched his compatriot all that closely of late. It was a familiar story during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, Casemiro chasing shadows, miscontrolling simple passes, and a second or two late to almost every challenge. He may be only 32 but, after playing over 50 games a season for club and country pretty much every year since 2015, Casemiro has more miles on the clock than most, the engine rusting and the paint chipping away.
Poor again in Bournemouth draw
“He has to see that danger first of all. It’s his mistake he’s made (for Justin Kluivert’s goal),” was the rather brutal assessment of Jamie Redknapp following that Bournemouth aberration (Sky Sports, 13 April, 7pm).
“Casemiro, I’ve watched him for years and he’s been one of my favourite defensive midfielders in world football. I’ve loved watching him play.
“But right now, it looks like he’s in Soccer Aid.”
In Casemiro’s defence, he is not exactly being helped by Erik ten Hag’s ramshackle tactics. Even Kobbie Mainoo, a man 14 years his senior, has struggling at times when asked to cover a truly obscene amount of ground in the middle of the park.
“That type of football leads to seeing players at the worst at times,” Rio Ferdinand tells FIVE. “Casemiro, for all that he’s won and the great player that he’s been, he will look a worse player when the tactics are the way they are. When it’s open, transition football, when there’s big spaces around him.
“In that midfield, at times, another midfielder is 20 yards away, 30 yards away. That never happened at Real Madrid, so you don’t see his worst traits, which is his mobility.”