- Manchester United move close to Champions League footballl thanks to Casemiro
- The midfielder joined United in 2022 after a 4-0 thrashing by Brentford
- Brazilian is cultivating a hero figure on his way out
One of the main triggers for Casemiro’s move to Manchester United in 2022 was the club’s 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Brentford. While such a disastrous start under Erik ten Hag might have scared off most players, the Brazilian didn’t flinch.
Instead of backing out, he reportedly famously said: “Tell them I’ll fix it.” The former Real Madrid man, who had won it all, was even more motivated to get the club back into the Champions League. He did exactly that, playing a massive role in United securing a third-place finish in his debut season.
It feels befitting that in his last game against the Bees, the Brazilian played a big part, by scoring, in moving the club closer to Champions League football once again. Michael Carrick’s side need just two points to mathematically confirm their place in Europe’s elite bracket for 2026/27.
Casemiro’s Swansong is an Emotional Rollercoaster
After the game on Monday night (27 April), Casemiro looked visibly upset at the thought of missing the atmosphere around Old Trafford after he leaves. Even when he celebrated the goal, the Brazilian made sure to kiss the club’s crest as a token of his love for his adopted club.
There is no feeling like this. The 34-year-old had an incredible spell at Real Madrid, winning 18 trophies that included 5 Champions League titles. However, the love he has gained for life at United is irreplaceable elsewhere.
Manchester United have four games to go. Casemiro’s official farewell at Old Trafford will be against Nottingham Forest on 17 May. The last game of the season is an away trip to Brighton, but Carrick’s side may not have any stakes on the game by the time they travel to the Amex Stadium on the final day.
The next game will be the ‘biggest’ from the remaining fixtures, as the Red Devils host Liverpool. There are just three points between the two sides, but United have the least room for error. A win is not only for bragging rights, but would secure UCL football whilst putting a dent in Arne Slot’s own hopes. A draw would delay the inevitable, whilst a loss could sidetrack United into fifth at worst.
Casemiro Status is Certified
As Casemiro prepares to bid farewell to Old Trafford, he departs not just as a world-class anchor, but as a player who changed his playing style for the United crowd. He arrived with a reputation as Real Madrid’s “destroyer” in one of Madrid’s greatest ever sides. But his time in Manchester has revealed a surprising clinical edge (and ill-disciplined element) to his game.
His ability to score crucial goals was something rarely seen in Madrid. This season, he is just one shy of reaching double figures. During his time at United, a Premier League title may have remained out of reach. However, silverware isn’t the only metric of greatness in the game. He joined the club in a challenging time, and of course, there were blips in his own form. After all, it wasn’t too long ago that Amorim was playing youngster Toby Collyer over Casemiro in the starting eleven.
Yet, Casemiro is ending his time at United strongly. He has provided a standard of leadership and elite mentality that had been sorely missing. He leaves as a modern legend who arrived to “fix it” and, in his twilight, has helped do that in the midst of successfully qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since 2023/24.
