Real Madrid did the right thing in selling Casemiro to Manchester United this summer because they have the players to fill his shoes, according to Luka Modric.
Casemiro left Los Blancos for a transfer fee which could reach £70million in August, bringing to an end a hugely-successful nine-year spell with the Spanish giants. The Brazilian midfielder helped the club win five Champions League trophies and three La Liga titles and was a key player in the middle of the pitch, alongside Modric and Toni Kroos.
Real were prepared for the 30-year-old’s departure, having signed Eduardo Camavinga last year for €40m (£34.4m) from Rennes and Aurelien Tchouameni for €100m (£85.3m) from Monaco this summer. The two young Frenchmen have complemented the experience of Kroos and Modric, meaning Real have been able to move on following Casemiro’s exit.
"We’ve started really well this year and we have a strong team,” Modric told the club website. “In midfield, we lost an important player in Casemiro, but we’ve got a lot of other good players to replace him and do a good job. Tchouameni has adapted really well.
“This is Camavinga’s second year and he had a great first year. Kroos has been here for a long time. [Federico] Valverde is also doing really well in any position. [Dani] Ceballos is helping the team a lot. We’re well equipped in this position."
Real have made a perfect start to the season, winning all four of their La Liga matches to sit top of the early-season table ahead of Sunday’s match against Mallorca. Carlo Ancelotti’s side also got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start by beating Celtic 3-0 in Glasgow this week.
HAVE YOUR SAY! What have you made of Casemiro's start at Manchester United? Comment below.
Ancelotti was certainly not expecting difficulties after selling Casemiro. He said last month : "Casemiro wants to try a new challenge, and I and the club understand that. After all, he's done for this club, we need to respect his decision. Casemiro is leaving but we have a lot of resources to replace him.
"There is no turning back, Casemiro has decided to try a new challenge. We want to wish him the very best. Just yesterday I realised that Casemiro is leaving, but our plans don't change - we'll compete for everything with or without Casemiro. I think Casemiro has been a key player for us, he was important to Kroos and Modric – the combination was key to success.
"Casemiro's teammates understand his decision, they respect it – it was his will to try a new challenge and we have to accept it. I can't reply to why Casemiro traded European Champions for a struggling side, it's his personal decision."
Casemiro has made just three substitute appearances in the Premier League for United, although he did play the full 90 minutes in Thursday’s 1-0 defeat by Real Sociedad in the Europa League.
