Casemiro Was Supposed to Be Finished, He Leaves Manchester United a Hero

When Manchester United announced on January 22 that Casemiro would leave upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the season, the overwhelming sentiment among fans and pundits centered on one question: how much would he be missed? For a player who was written off as finished just months earlier, this shift in perspective represents one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent Premier League history.

The announcement sparked genuine concern among Manchester United supporters, a far cry from the atmosphere surrounding the Brazilian midfielder during the dark days of 2024. Back then, Casemiro was viewed as a liability, a fading star whose legs had gone and whose presence in the team symbolized everything wrong with the club’s approach to recruitment and squad management.

From Ridicule to Redemption

The transformation in Casemiro’s fortunes is best understood by revisiting the low point of his Manchester United career. After a devastating 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in May 2024, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher delivered a scathing assessment that seemed to capture the prevailing mood.

The former Liverpool captain declared that Casemiro “should only have another three games left at the top level” and that “the football has left him; at this top level, he needs to call it a day.” These comments came weeks after fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp suggested the Brazilian looked like he was playing at the pace of a charity match during a loss to Bournemouth.

The Palace defeat attracted particular attention due to viral ref-cam footage showing Casemiro’s ineffective attempt to dispossess Michael Olise before the Frenchman scored. The clip became symbolic of his struggles, circulating widely on social media as evidence of his declining abilities. For many observers, it seemed Casemiro’s time at the elite level was over.

Manchester United appeared to share this assessment. Reports suggested the club was eager to move him on during the summer of 2024, motivated both by his performances and the desire to remove his hefty wages from the books. As the club’s highest earner at approximately £350,000 per week, Casemiro represented both a sporting and financial burden that United seemed desperate to shed.

Yet here we are, discussing his departure not as the removal of dead wood but as the loss of a valuable squad member. How did this remarkable reversal occur?

The Statistical Renaissance

Casemiro’s resurgence didn’t begin this season. The data reveals that his rehabilitation started before Ruben Amorim’s appointment, though the Portuguese manager’s arrival initially threatened to derail his progress. When Amorim took charge, he suggested Casemiro didn’t have “the characteristics” to play as part of a midfield two in his preferred 3-4-3 system.

Average minutes played data from the 2024-25 season shows how Casemiro’s involvement plummeted following Amorim’s arrival. However, the same data demonstrates his determination to fight back into contention, gradually increasing his playing time through consistent performances when opportunities arose.

The breakthrough came when Amorim recognized that accommodating Casemiro required tactical adjustments. As the manager explained, “We understood that he cannot jump all the time pressing high. We need to let him understand and sometimes it is better to put three defenders and let him be the fourth defender and put the wing-backs pressing high.”

This adaptation proved crucial. By modifying the team’s pressing structure to suit Casemiro’s physical limitations, Amorim unlocked the Brazilian’s remaining strengths while minimizing his weaknesses.

Physical Limitations and Tactical Solutions

One undeniable reality of Casemiro’s situation is his diminished mobility. Last season, he recorded the third-lowest top speed among central and defensive midfielders who played at least 450 minutes in the Premier League, at just 30.5 km/h. This season, that figure remains identical.

Premier League Midfielders – Top Speed Comparison

However, the impact of this limitation has lessened because Manchester United have become more compact defensively. The statistics support this assessment. United have spent 27% of match time using a high block in the 2025-26 season, down from 32% in 2024-25 and 30% in 2023-24.

Crucially, their passing sequences have had an average start distance from their goal of 42.8 meters, up from 42.3 meters last season and 41.5 meters the season before. These figures suggest the defense now operates closer to the midfield, meaning Casemiro is less likely to find himself isolated in vast spaces he cannot cover.

Under Erik ten Hag’s management, Manchester United became notorious for gaping holes in midfield. The team’s transition-heavy approach left Casemiro hopelessly exposed, frequently requiring him to cover ground at speeds he could no longer achieve. When opposition teams countered, the Brazilian offered practically no protection to the defense because he lacked the pace to track runners.

Amorim’s system, while not without its flaws, has addressed this fundamental issue. By allowing Casemiro to operate as a quasi-fourth defender when necessary and adjusting the pressing structure to account for his limitations, United have created an environment where his remaining qualities can flourish.

Offensive Impact: Goals and Assists

While tactical adjustments helped mask Casemiro’s defensive vulnerabilities, his offensive contributions have been genuinely impressive and cannot be explained away by system changes alone. Since the start of February 2025, Casemiro’s 11 goal involvements across all competitions (seven goals, four assists) trails only Bruno Fernandes among Manchester United players.

His aerial prowess has been particularly valuable. Over the same period, only two Premier League players have scored more than Casemiro’s five headed goals in all competitions. This threat has transformed United’s set-piece attacking, turning them into one of the most efficient teams at converting dead-ball situations.

Casemiro’s Goal Involvements Since February 2025

Beyond goals, Casemiro’s passing ability remains a significant weapon for Manchester United. He ranks 10th among central and defensive midfielders for line-breaking passes this season with 145, despite playing fewer minutes than all those ahead of him in the rankings.

More impressively, four of his line-breaking passes have been in sequences that ultimately led to goals. Only three players in the Premier League can better that figure, demonstrating the quality and importance of his distribution.

A recent example came in the match against Fulham, when Casemiro threaded a perfectly weighted pass through to Matheus Cunha, who fired home. Such moments showcase the vision and technical quality that made him one of the world’s best midfielders at Real Madrid.

The Pecking Order Transformation

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Casemiro’s resurgence is how dramatically his status within the squad has changed. When Amorim first arrived, the Brazilian found himself behind Toby Collyer in the pecking order, an astonishing position for a five-time Champions League winner. Collyer has since joined Hull City on loan, while Casemiro has become one of the most important players in Amorim’s team.

This transformation speaks to both Casemiro’s professionalism and Amorim’s willingness to reassess his initial judgments. Rather than stubbornly sticking to preconceived notions about what his system required, Amorim adapted to accommodate a player who proved his value through performances rather than reputation.

The manager’s tactical flexibility deserves credit here. By adjusting the pressing structure and allowing Casemiro to operate in a deeper role when necessary, Amorim created conditions for success rather than forcing a square peg into a round hole.

The Right Decision for Both Parties

Despite Casemiro’s impressive form, Manchester United’s decision not to renew his contract appears correct for several reasons. The club has spent much of the past decade clinging to aging players, often extending contracts that made little strategic sense. This pattern contributed significantly to the malaise that has plagued United since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

By allowing Casemiro to leave at the end of his current deal, United avoid repeating past mistakes. They get four productive seasons from a player who, for more than half that time, has been a valuable team member. Meanwhile, they signal a commitment to forward planning and sustainable squad building that distinguishes the current regime from previous administrations.

For Casemiro, leaving now allows him to depart with his reputation restored and dignity intact. Rather than fading into irrelevance or becoming a cautionary tale about staying too long, he exits as a player who overcame adversity and proved his doubters wrong. The timing feels right for all involved.

His likely destination is expected to be either Major League Soccer or the Saudi Pro League, where his experience and leadership would be valued, and where the physical demands might be less intense than in the Premier League. Either move would offer a fitting epilogue to a distinguished career while allowing him to remain competitive at a level appropriate to his current abilities.

Read More: Can Bruno Fernandes Break the Premier League Record of 20 Assists?

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