Neymar has been linked with a shock transfer to Manchester United and the superstar has already hailed the influence of Casemiro, his Brazil international team-mate.
Casemiro joined United in a £70million deal last summer to end a trophy-laden nine years at Real Madrid – where he won five Champions League crowns at the base of a midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. The trio formed a formidable partnership that largely dominated Europe.
The Brazilian’s arrival has helped transform Erik ten Hag’s team this season. He has added balance, control and structure to a team that desperately needed such attributes. He is likely to be a contender for the Player of the Year award in the Premier League.
Casemiro has proven to be a catalyst in United's upturn in form this season – ending their six-year drought without a major trophy as they won the EFL Cup earlier this season. They are also into the FA Cup semi-finals, the last eight of the Europa League and are in the top four of the Premier League.
During the World Cup, Casemiro played a key role for his nation in a group stage victory over Switzerland as he struck late on to secure a difficult but deserved win for Tite’s team. That win was achieved without Neymar, who was ruled out through injury.
The Paris Saint-Germain star took to his Twitter account following his nation’s victory, honouring his international team-mate: “Casemiro has been the best midfielder in the world for a long time.”
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Neymar has now been linked with a shock summer transfer to Old Trafford, with the Sun claiming that a deal is possible if the Qatari bidders are successful in their takeover of the Manchester club. Mirror Football exclusively reported that Neymar could leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer after six seasons at the club.
There are multiple offers to buy the club including a group led by Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani. The report claims that he intends to make Neymar his marquee signing of the summer, should his bid for the club be successful.
Sheikh Jassim, the chairman of Qatar Islamic Bank, is the son of a former Qatari prime minister and has previously claimed that this bid is a private initiative that is not connected to the Qatari state and is instead through his Nine Two Foundation. Should his bid be accepted, that claim would be examined through vetting processes including the Premier League's Owners and Directors test.
He faces strongest competition for a takeover from INEOS owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is open to purchasing a majority share while keeping the Glazers on at the club.
