Re-energised Casemiro proves his critics wrong at Manchester United
Manchester United’s veteran midfielder Casemiro has gone from being written off to becoming one of the team’s most crucial players again.
Once dismissed as finished by pundits, the 33-year-old Brazilian has reasserted his dominance under Ruben Amorim, and it’s silencing even his harshest critics.
Written off on live TV
Casemiro and Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim have more in common than might be expected.
Both are Portuguese speakers who once played in Portugal’s top flight, and both have been publicly condemned by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher.
Carragher infamously declared Casemiro “finished” after United’s 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace in May 2024, where the Brazilian struggled in an unfamiliar centre-back role. “The football’s left him at this top level”, Carragher said. “He needs to call it a day.”
According to goal.com, Carragher also took aim at Amorim months later, calling United’s form under him a disaster following a 3-1 defeat at Brentford.
But the tables have since turned, while Liverpool stumbled, United won three league games in a row, climbing above their rivals.
Undroppable again
Nearly 18 months after being told to retire, Casemiro has not only revived his United career but also regained his place for Brazil, captaining the national team in recent friendlies.
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At club level, his performances have been pivotal. He scored and assisted in the 4-2 victory over Brighton and starred in United’s first win at Anfield in a decade.
Amorim now manages his minutes carefully, aware of the midfielder’s age, but his absence is still felt whenever he’s not on the pitch.
The statistics underline his influence. United have not conceded a goal with Casemiro playing since August.
When he was substituted against Fulham, the opposition equalised within minutes; when he was sent off versus Chelsea, the momentum shifted instantly.
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From exile to influence
It wasn’t long ago that Casemiro seemed to be heading out of Old Trafford.
After a difficult 2023–24 season marked by injuries and poor form, he was dropped for the FA Cup final and left out of the matchday squad altogether.
United even placed a £30 million price tag on him over the summer, with potential moves to Saudi Arabia and Turkey floated, but none materialised.
When Amorim arrived, Casemiro initially struggled to adapt. “We’re in a league with very high intensity,” the coach told TNT Sports Mexico in January. “I needed players with a slightly different pace.”
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For months, the five-time Champions League winner was reduced to late cameo appearances.
Finding form again
Everything changed in the spring. Casemiro forced his way back into the side, starting eight of United’s last league matches and all their Europa League knockout games.
He scored in the semi-final against Athletic Club and helped orchestrate a dramatic comeback against Lyon, earning a recall to Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti.
Amorim later admitted Casemiro had proved him wrong. “He wasn’t playing because I thought he wasn’t the best option. But he continued to work,” the manager said. “The credit is all to the player.”
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United’s pursuit of a new midfielder, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, fell through, a blessing in disguise, as Casemiro’s resurgence made him indispensable again. Fans at Old Trafford chanted his name as he left the field in the Brighton win, a far cry from the uncertainty of the previous year.
Leading by example
Amorim has since lauded the midfielder’s work ethic. “He’s so important for us,” he said. “He ran a lot, pressed high, and returned. The others should look at Casemiro.”
Before that match, Casemiro had arrived for extra training alongside Matheus Cunha, a testament to his commitment. It’s reminiscent of his first season at United, when he transformed the club’s fortunes after arriving from Real Madrid.
He once called that 2022–23 campaign, which saw United finish third, win the Carabao Cup, and reach the FA Cup final, the best of his career.
His passion on the pitch and leadership in the dressing room remain as strong as ever.
The football never left
Carragher’s claim that “the football left him” has aged poorly. Casemiro’s response came not in words but performances, silencing doubts through relentless effort.
In a 2024 interview with Goal.com, he addressed the criticism directly: “I was considered one of the best signings of the Premier League last season, and now I’m not worth anything anymore? The criticism is disrespectful.”
His determination has paid off. After a turbulent year, Casemiro has earned back his place, his respect, and his rhythm.
The football, it turns out, never left him, it just needed time to return.
