Cristiano Ronaldo’s Manchester United return may have fallen flat on its face, but the arrival of his former Real Madrid team-mate is having the exact impact required.
United spent big to land Casemiro, with the Brazilian international making the switch from the Bernabeu for a reported £70million. At 30, there were some question marks over that whopping fee, questions which have already been emphatically answered.
With Casemiro at the heart of the Red Devils midfield, there is genuine belief that an Old Trafford title charge could be on the horizon. Their credentials were underlined last weekend after coming from behind to beat champions Manchester City.
It’s a victory which leaves United nine points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal - a lead that could be down to three by the end of the week. And should they mount a serious challenge, the influence of Casemiro cannot be overstated.
During his eight seasons in the Spanish capital, the combative midfielder won every club honour, including three LaLiga titles and a staggering FIVE Champions League crowns. In fact, since United last lifted a trophy themselves - the Europa League in 2017 - Casemiro has done so 10 times.
And that determination, bordering on obsession, to win, was on clear display during the recent Manchester derby. Footage caught by a spectator within the Theatre of Dreams, cough Casemiro wildly remonstrating whilst on the touchline having received some treatment.
In the short clip, Casemiro is seen pushing away a physio and furiously waving to officials to get him back in the action. And after spending months reading about a player desperate to NOT play for their team, supporters were fully behind one desperate to do so.
That moment wasn’t the only one immortalised by a camera phone with his iconic celebrations of Marcus Rashford ’s winner also going viral. Casemiro left the pile of euphoric United colleagues to embrace fans in the crowd and scream in delight.
The fan he hugged, Pete Boyle, told the club’s official website: “I ran down with Georgie and Bella, my son and daughter, and Casemiro's just to my left and he was hugging the kids! I grabbed the corner of his shirt – like the big kid I am! – then Casemiro gave me this big bear hug! What a strong guy by the way – he almost winded me, in a good way!
“It was a real Boyle hug too, because Georgie had one side of his shirt and Bella had the other! I've watched the video about 10 times a day since, and I smile every time.”
And Casemiro has revealed the man masterminding the United revolution - Erik ten Hag - is similarly addicted to winning. “He’s certainly a manager who is obsessed with winning. Few managers in my career had the same obsession to win,” he explained last week,
“He’s someone who always wants to win: even in training, he always wants the best. He’s a hard-working manager who demands a lot of his players so that we’re always at our best and that’s important for us.”
