Twelve months ago, Manchester United secured Champions League qualification via a 4-1 thumping of Chelsea at Old Trafford.
A top-four spot, given the mess Erik ten Hag had inherited when taking over at the perennial Premier League overachievers, felt like a massive achievement. And at the heart of his team that day, Chelsea filleted by a Manchester United side brimming with confidence, was a man who – alongside Bruno Fernandes – had made perhaps the biggest impact of any Red Devils signing in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
“He’s won so much. He’s a big man, and he plays like a big man,” Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink told Sky Sports after Casemiro‘s latest colossal performance.
“He leads, scores goals, tackles. He’s had a few red cards but he’s a proper leader on the pitch,” Hasselbaink adds. “I can only imagine how he gets in the dressing room, and what kind of lift he gives to the other players
“Big, big, big player.”
Not content with opening the scoring that night in the North West, thumping home a trademark header, Casemiro then showcased a bit of Brazilian flair with a wonderful no-look pass, Jadon Sancho then setting up Anthony Martial to tap home.
It’s startling, really, to witness how much has changed since then. From third last season to eighth this. Ten Hag looked like the future of Man United in May 2023, but is now only clinging onto the present by the tips of his fingers. Sancho is Man United’s persona non grata – bridges burned but a Champions League final to look forward to – while Martial feels destined to depart when his contract expires.
As for Casemiro, the former Real Madrid enforcer’s Man United career largely mirrors that of his manager. Hugely popular and genuinely transformative in 2023/24, seemingly out of his depth and out of steam in 2024/25.
Casemiro must leave Manchester United
Can you really think of a worse individual performance in Man United’s recent history than the one Casemiro produced during Monday’s 4-0 humiliation at Crystal Palace? Has there ever been a player who has declined quite so rapidly in that famous red shirt?
It always felt like a risk when Man United spent £70 million on a 30-year-old Casemiro while handing him a four-year deal. Few would have imagined, however, that such an investment would look quite so foolish just halfway into his contract, with many United supporters now queuing up to cart Casemiro out the door.
Fortunately, Man United may be the next in line to benefit from Saudi Arabia’s Galactico-driven transfer policy. After Liverpool made big money on the declining Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, after Chelsea cashed in on Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy, Man United’s prayers may also be answered by those Middle East riches.
Al-Nassr in for Cristiano Ronaldo’s former team-mate
Caught Offside report that Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr are preparing a bid in the region of £35 million for Casemiro.
That would still see United take a 50 per cent loss on a player who only joined the club in 2022.
But still, when you consider his age, the standard of his recent performances and the remarkable lack of energy in his once piston-like legs, £35 million for a 32-year-old Casemiro would be pretty outstanding business. Especially given that United likely have to sell before they can buy this summer.
With Jadon Sancho, Donny van de Beek and co likely to prove difficult to shift, a £35 million windfall feels like the dream beginning to a summer in which only ten players are reportedly safe from the axe.
And, as you might expect, Casemiro is most certainly not among those chosen ten.