Casemiro’s time in a Manchester United shirt has been limited so far. The Brazilian was signed in a €70 million deal late in the transfer window, after United failed in their pursuit of Frenkie de Jong.
The five-time Champions League winner has only had one start for the club, with most of his appearances coming from the bench. This has left many fans wondering whether he was actually an Erik Ten Hag signing in the first place.
The real reason why Casemiro hasn’t played much since joining Manchester United
The midfielder provides a more defensive role than someone like Frenkie de Jong, who operates as a 6. And since his arrival, Scott McTominay has stepped up his game as well. The partnership between Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes and McTominay has been the preferred option for Ten Hag so far.
And it is also one of the reasons why Casemiro has been left on the bench for the most part. Adaptation to the English game, as well as Ten Hag’s style of play is the key factor to remember in this debate.
Ten Hag himself has insisted that Casemiro will play an important role in the team. And according to Fabrizio Romano, he approved the transfer of the Real Madrid star. But so far, McTominay’s resurgence has appeared as the better option for the manager. In due course, the Brazilian should be seeing more time as he adapts to the way the team plays.