Manchester United are advancing well in what looked an impossible deal at start. The offer is so big the Brazilian is now think about it.
Manchester United have offered massive wage, far above what the 30-year-old currently earns in Madrid and a player of his age, having won everything winnable for Los Blancos, the time might be right for a new challenge.
Moving away from the futile midfield partnership of Scott Mctominay and Fred, which has only seen the club regressed in recent years, United will do almost everything possible to achieve this, even so after an underwhelming start to the season.
A desperate Manchester United will take anyone at this time, with the transfer window coming to a close. For the same position, they have chased Frenkie De Jong, Adrien Rabiot and now Casemiro, three players of entire different profile and play style.
While there is no question about Casemiro’s qualities and abilities, United faithfuls will not want to ask if he would thrive under a manager like Erik Ten Hag but landing a big name midfielder to move on from the likes of Fred and Mctominay is worth it in the end.
Casemiro, a serial winner and a proven player, has been playing at the top level since leaving Real Madrid to spend the season on loan with Porto in the 2014/15 season.
Since his return, he has slotted in seamlessly into the set up in the Spanish capital, playing a big role in the club’s run to winning the Champions League on four occasions, adding to the one he won as just a part of the squad.
He had also added steel to the side and help do the dirty work in the middle of the park, dominating in possession winning, breaking play, tackling, successful pressures, passing and great defensive contributions.
His adaptability under different managers has also been one of the factors that make him a world class player. Rafa Benitez, Julen Lopetegui, Zinedine Zidane and now Carlo Ancelotti, none of them has planned anything without the Brazilian in it.
Casemiro also have good shooting range and has been productive in attack for Madrid. He has scored very important goals, including a go-ahead in the Champions League final against Juventus in 2017. His shooting ability will also be great asset for Manchester United once he completes the move.
Casemiro has dominated both in the La Liga and the Champions League for Real Madrid, adding 31 goals and 29 assists to what he offers and the perfect defensive Midfielder. He is also a mainstay in the Brazil National team and was part of the team that won the Copa America in 2019.
He has been one of the top midfielders in world football since the middle of the last decade and now at 30, a move to the England he might think is a challenge to take up, with United offering him a lucrative offer.
In this sense, it’s a win-win for both Manchester United and Casemiro, who will also be linking up with former Real Madrid teammates, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo, the later who might be on the move out of the club soon.
For Real Madrid, Casemiro, a player signed for just €6 million over nine years ago and has achieved everything possible with the club, letting him ho for an excess of £60 million is no brainer a good business.
With this, they could sign a replacement or choose not to due to the presence of summer signing, Aurélien Tchouameni and other players at the club who could slot into the position as backup when needed.
The bad news for Manchester United however is the reality about Brazilian once in their 30s while for Real Madrid, retaining Casemiro for the season will help prepare Aurélien Tchouameni for the years ahead and his departure might expose the new signing to early pressure, which might affect his development.
At Manchester United, Casemiro will sign a four year contract on the back of playing in the La Liga for more seven years or so, where the style of play is completely different from that in England.
The English game demands pace and for a player who loves tackling and not that blessed with pace, the timing of the tackles has to be spot on as any wrong call would be punished.
As much as Casemiro’s experience can see him get over it easily, it is only normal he gets in trouble time and again but this is one thing Erik Ten Hag will work on to get the Brazilian ready for what’s to come in the English game.
Aside that, a major concern about Brazilian once they clock 30 is how much they become less committed to the game. However, if Casemiro is to be one of the few exceptions, the better for Manchester United.
Paying an excess of £60m for a 30-year-old Brazilian, who will be coming in on huge wage sounds quite much but this is one of the lengths United will go to finally outlive the days of Fred and Mctominay starting week in and out.
As for Real Madrid, the expectations in the shirt is too big and a lot more is demanded from the players. When Casemiro leaves, it will be on manager Carlo Ancelotti to ensure Tchouameni is not overloaded before he will be ready, or he might never be ready after all.
It has been obvious in the preseason as well as the opening game of the La Liga season that the French midfielder will need time to settle down in Spain and would benefit a year under light of the experienced Brazilian.
Casemiro’s absence was also felt in the Champions League last season when he was suspended and to protect Tchouameni in his first season at the club, Casemiro’s availability will be key but that availability now looks unlikely.
While Real Madrid will also have a lot of competitions and games to play in the season, avoiding overloading Tchouameni, who joined from Monaco for a fee potentially rising to €100 million will be one of the priorities of manager, Carlo Ancelotti this season.
Casemiro, alongside the duo of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos have formed a formidable trio in the heart of the Madrid midfield and have conquered Europe and the World time and again in the last eight years or so, one more season will not be too much to ask to help prepare for the future ahead.
However, Casemiro in his 30 will surely know that an offer like Manchester United is probably not coming around anymore after this summer and might feel this is the right time to move on.
Tchouameni is never a threat to Casemiro’s position if he stays for at least this year but the Brazilian will be aware that his successor will also be afforded a fair share of game time and will also know that once Tchouameni understands the trade, his services might no longer be needed.
However, would he have an offer like what Manchester United have for him on the table right now in a year time ?
It is a big decision for Casemiro and at the moment looks like he embraces United’s offer and as much as Madrid are not expected to block a potential move, it won’t hurt if they try talking him to stay a year more by maybe improving his contract.
Should Casemiro leaves, he’ll leave a big hole, one not even Real Madrid’s €100 million signing can fill on the go while Manchester United will be having a very quality and proven player, one not assured to see out the years he’ll be putting to paper with the club at the top level.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
