Brazilian midfielder Casemiro leaves Manchester United after turning around a struggling career at Old Trafford.
Manchester United supporters have repeatedly sung the chant 'One more year, one more year, Casemiro' during his final matches, particularly when he scores. The Brazilian responded to the ovation by kissing and pointing to the club badge on his shirt. The 34-year-old’s impact has resonated deeply with the fanbase despite his earlier struggles.
On 30 December 2024, Manchester United suffered a heavy home defeat to Newcastle. Behind the scenes, fans’ frustration would have been even greater if Casemiro’s number had been raised, given his poor performance in a dismal team display. He was withdrawn after 64 minutes and missed the next seven weeks of action. At the time, manager Ruben Amorim remarked that even academy player Toby Collyer sometimes played ahead of Casemiro. This followed a 4-0 loss at Crystal Palace in May 2024, which triggered Jamie Carragher’s criticism that the midfielder should retire.
By January 2025, public and pundit scrutiny of Casemiro intensified, prompting him to describe Carragher’s remarks as 'disrespectful' in an interview on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast. Amorim openly questioned whether the Brazilian retained the physical attributes needed for Premier League football. However, a three-month period of intense training and adaptation changed the manager’s perspective, culminating in Casemiro’s return to the starting lineup for the Europa League tie against Real Sociedad on 6 March 2025.
Casemiro’s resurgence began with that Europa League return and continued with a run of consistent starts in major games. He reflected on his mindset in an interview with former United captain Rio Ferdinand, stating: 'Football changes. Life changes. For me, [with] the best players in the world, it’s about the mentality. I might not play good - I’m not a robot and I know. But the next [game], I give everything on the pitch. The mentality is next, next, next.' This renewed form earned him a recall to the Brazil squad, where he is expected to captain the team at this summer’s tournament.
During Michael Carrick’s tenure, Casemiro’s influence became pivotal in securing Champions League qualification. It is widely accepted that if he had been injured in February, after the transfer deadline had passed, his absence would have been the most difficult to replace for the club. Carrick praised the midfielder in his matchday notes for the Nottingham Forest game, saying: 'He has been an absolute pleasure to work with. He will always have a special connection with Manchester United.' Carrick also noted that the clarity around Casemiro’s departure, announced on 22 January, benefited both player and club.
Casemiro’s arrival from Real Madrid in 2022 for up to £70m inspired a young Kobbie Mainoo, who saw him as a mentor. Unexpectedly, Mainoo found himself competing for a starting berth with Casemiro during the Brazilian’s difficult period. Following Amorim’s departure, the two formed a strong partnership, featuring together in 13 of Carrick’s first 15 matches in charge, with only minor injuries preventing a perfect record.
Casemiro described his bond with Mainoo in an interview with the United We Stand fanzine, stating: 'Kobbie is my friend. I have an excellent relationship with him. We are always joking - in English because he doesn’t speak Portuguese. He is a complete player, the present and the future of Manchester. Why? Because he has already taught us that he can play to a high level for his club and country. The one thing he needs to improve is to play more with the ball, to touch the ball more, because he has so much quality. Then it’s the decision-making which comes with experience. That improves with age.'
As Casemiro prepares for his final Old Trafford appearance against Nottingham Forest, the Brazilian’s influence on Mainoo’s development could be seen as a fitting conclusion to his time at the club. A move to Major League Soccer after the World Cup is anticipated, but his immediate focus remains on delivering a proper farewell. Casemiro told United We Stand: 'It’s incredible, just incredible. My son (five-year-old Caio) is a Manchester United fan. He knows the songs and sings them at home. When the team loses, he cries. Our box is right on top of where the noisy United fans are. They feel this spirit. The most important thing about this club are the fans. Many times, we lose a game but in the next game they support us more. For me, that’s incredible. I’ve never experienced that in my career.'