Casemiro’s strike against Bournemouth may well have been his most eye-catching Manchester United goal, and perhaps his most vital so far.
His winner at the Vitality Stadium means a draw against Chelsea will be enough to secure a top four spot and Champions League football to cement Erik ten Hag’s debut campaign as a successful one. Casemiro has certainly been one of his most successful transfers, too.
The Brazilian has been a colossus in the centre of the park, with his eight-game absence this season due to his various suspensions keenly felt by United. The 31-year-old has completed the job he was brought in to do, and then some.
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He is a major reason why David de Gea has ended up as the Premier League’s Golden Glove with his screening in midfield. But Casemiro has also been pleasantly effective at the other end.
His scissor kick against Bournemouth was his sixth of the campaign, among his better returns in recent times. Real Madrid fans may not be overly surprised to see Casemiro’s name often on the scoresheet given he netted at least four times in six of his eight seasons in Spain.
But having managed just one goal for Real last term, Casemiro has popped up with vital goals this, including a stoppage-time equaliser against Chelsea in October the opener in February’s League Cup final. He has found the net in decisive moments, but United cannot rely on his clutch strikes going into next season.
Marcus Rashford has been carrying the team’s scoring burden this season with 29 goals. United’s next three highest scorers have a combined total of 27 goals. Casemiro sits joint-fifth in the list.
In the six matches Rashford has missed this season, United have scored only nine goals and only two of them have been scored by centre-forwards including one from Cristiano Ronaldo against FC Sheriff along with Anthony Martial’s strike against Wolves.
There's no prizes for identifying where United need to improve over the summer. Harry Kane is the top target but Daniel Levy will likely play a long game the Reds are unwilling to entertain. Victor Osimhen may cost north of £130m, judging by reports in Italy.
That might be affordable for United, depending on how the takeover process concludes - but it also might not. Nothing seems certain going into the summer transfer market.
What is certain is that United cannot afford to rely upon the goal threat of a defensive midfielder who is the wrong side of 30. Fred, Casemiro’s goalscoring knack is a happy one but United must strengthen in the summer to ensure a happy ending.
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