Manchester United yes agree an agreement to sign Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro For £60m, there could be an extra £10m for performance-related add-ons, but is he the player that saves the club?
Casemiro, 30, is considered by many to be one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and has won almost everything he has in Madrid after moving from Sao Paulo in 2013.
With just over 500 career appearances (and 47 goals), Brazil internationally won the Copa Sudamericana (2012) with Sao Paulo and numerous other titles with Madrid, including; three LaLiga titles (2017, 2020, 2022); a Copa del Rey (2014); three Spanish Super Cups (2017, 2020, 2022); year UEFA Champions League (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022); three UEFA Super Cups (2016, 2017, 2022); three FIFA Club World Cups (2016, 2017, 2018)
With Brazil – with whom he has 63 senior caps – he won the Copa America (2019), as well as the South American Under-17 Championship (2009), the South American Under-20 Championship ( 2011) and FIFA U.-20 World Cup (2011) at youth level.
So what can Man United expect?
position
Casemiro often plays deep in the role of a pillar against central defenders in a 4-3-3 formation. He can move forward to help his attacking players in a more box-to-box role but he is more oriented towards defense than attack.
The midfielder is one of the best at covering his teammates when they are out of position and can move into the full-back area to block attacks. He has been compared in style to legendary Real Madrid defensive midfielder Claude Makelele, although Casemiro’s sense of position and determination mark him as one of the best around. .
By the numbers
Casemiro has some impressive stats compared to colleagues at Real Madrid last season, playing 32 of the club’s 38 matches (5th =) en route to a La Liga and Champions League double.
*Stats are based on Primeira Liga 2021-22 only, vs players over 10 games
Moving: 2,448 (3rd at Real Madrid)
Accuracy pass: 86% (19th)
The recuperation: 230 (first place)
Duels won: 57.6% (Friday)
Winning ball: 44% (10th)
Opportunities are created: 26 (9th place)
Expected goal: 2.62 (8th place)
Expected Support: 2.86 (8th place)
Strength
Casemiro’s departure means Real Madrid lose a third of their iconic Casemiro /Toni Kroos/Luka Modric midfield, three players complement each other perfectly and have been the cornerstone of their recent Champions League wins. The Brazilian’s role in that trio was clearly defined as being the most defensive of the three, protecting Madrid’s defence, winning the ball back and providing a platform for like-minded colleagues. More attack can develop – although he has shown a growing desire. also progressed over the years.
Only five players, among them Barcelona‘S Sergio Busquets, had more recoveries than Casemiro (230) in LaLiga last season, and is playing for a Madrid side that tends to dominate possession. His perception is exceptional, and he can often be seen stepping back in defense to plug space or help a teammate in the incorrect position. His pass completion rate is solid – in LaLiga last year it was 86% – but far behind someone like Kroos, who is at the top of the rankings Spain with 94.9%.
Casemiro doesn’t often score, especially from long range. His best ever in LaLiga is six goals in 2020-21, while you may remember his spectacular strike against Juventus in the 2017 Champions League final. – Alex Kirkland
Casemiro was sixth in LaLiga in terms of ball recovery last season, while his defensive action chart shows just how involved he is in everything on the pitch.
How can he improve?
Don’t expect Casemiro to regularly feature in the opponent’s box. In LaLiga last season, he created just 26 chances in 32 appearances, providing 3 assists and 1 goal.
It will be interesting to see how his ridiculous style matches the more physical demands of the Premier League. Casemiro is well-known to opposition fans for avoiding well-deserved penalties, but he still received 11 yellow cards in LaLiga last season – although surprisingly he has only been sent off twice in the near-term. a decade in Spain. – Kirkland
Why is Man United interested?
Casemiro fills a hole in Manchester United’s squad and one that Erik ten Hag has been determined to fix since he arrived at Old Trafford.
United make no secret of the truth Frenkie de Jong was the top target, but with that deal becoming less and less likely with each passing week, they turned their attention to Casemiro. He may be 30, but he still has a lot of experience and is one of the best in the world in his position; United really can’t say no when the opportunity comes.
There will be questions about why Real Madrid let him go, but the bottom line is that those reasons are not in United’s interest. Their only question was whether he would improve the team immediately and the answer was, undeniably, yes. The move from De Jong to Casemiro has little to do with the signing scheme, but the Brazilian makes United the better. – Rob Dawson
Is he the right fit for Old Trafford?
Casemiro went straight into United’s team because he was better than anyone Ten Hag had in that position. The question, however, is whether he will fit the way the Dutchman wants to play.
The Brazilian is an uncomplicated player who wants to win the ball back and give it to someone with better technical ability, which is why he is so effective in midfield three at Real Madrid on the side. alongside Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, two of the game’s best distributors. . Casemiro won’t move forward with the ball or set the tempo with his pass the way De Jong can, but he will help United defend better. He left the game, read the game well and he felt comfortable sitting in front of four defenders – which was something United had missed even before Ten Hag arrived.
United conceded too many goals last season and scored six in two games against Brighton and Brentford. The arrival of Casemiro should help fix that, if nothing else. – Dawson
