Casemiro's admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo may have played a pivotal role in the player's decision to join Manchester United.
United agreed a deal for Casemiro worth £60million that could rise to £70million in total for the 30-year-old Brazilian to join the club this summer. The player has agreed personal terms with the club in what is set to be a significant upgrade to Erik ten Hag's midfield options for this season.
Casemiro will provide a welcome additional level of structure to a midfield that has shown fragility in the defeats to both Brighton and Brentford. The five-times European Cup winner should raise the standards at United if the stories from his former teammates are anything to go by.
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There are a couple of players at United who are familiar with Casemiro's behaviour on and off-the pitch as the transfer awaits its final confirmation. Ronaldo and Raphael Varane played alongside the Brazilian in Madrid as the pair won numerous trophies during the five-seasons that they shared a pitch together.
The future of Ronaldo is still up in the air as the end of the transfer window creeps into view - yet Casemiro will be one person hoping the 37-year-old stays in Manchester. The Brazilian has heaped praise on his former teammate in the past and the five-time Ballon d'Or winner may well just be one of the reasons he decided to join the club.
Speaking during their time together at Real Madrid, Casemiro said: "Cristiano [Ronaldo] surprises me every day because he always wants to work more, he always wants to win more.
“He’s an inspiration for every football player in the world. He’s an exceptional player both on and off the pitch. He’s never happy with his goals, he always wants more, and that’s why he’s the best on the world.
“I have the great pleasure of being able to work alongside him and I learn a lot of things from him."
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