Casemiro’s latest performance at the heart of Manchester United’s midfield was bookended by two slide tackles that give cause to think his intention to see out the final year of his lucrative contract may not be the bane to the club’s hierarchy that it once appeared.
Early on he reacted quickly to Harry Maguire’s loose pass to Phil Foden by launching into a one-man rescue mission, claiming enough of the ball to evade sanction from referee John Brooks and leaving the Manchester City player in a heap on the floor.
Casemiro was still at it four minutes from time, seizing possession from another of City’s creators, this time Jack Grealish. After chopping at Grealish with the heft of a lumberjack, he got the scalpel out for Rico Lewis, staying on his feet to open up a pass down the wing to Alejandro Garnacho, although City were able to intercept.
They were two defensive actions, at the start and end of the derby, that headlined a strong performance by Casemiro, who finished having made 11 tackles, the most by a United player in a Premier League game since Patrice Evra against Portsmouth in August 2008 (also 11). On seven of those 11 occasions United came away with the ball.
Casemiro also won 12 of his 13 ground duels against City, at 92 per cent the highest proportion by any player in the Premier League this season with 12+ attempted in a game.
City are not currently the offensive force they have been in their title campaigns, but Casemiro’s ability to read play and intervene at the age of 33 was still notable. It came a month after he had exerted similar influence for the visit of Arsenal, where he won more tackles (nine) than all other midfielders on the pitch that day combined (eight).
Casemiro made flinging himself to the ground his unexpected signature in his first season in England, but he is getting cleaner. His debut saw him rack up 13 yellows and two reds, while last term he got nine cautions and one sending off. There was also footage from the referee camera during United’s 4-0 loss at Crystal Palace where it looked like he was aiming for a different post-code when trying to tackle Michael Olise.
Casemiro tackles Phil Foden (Martin Rickett/Getty Images)
That game was regarded as possibly terminal to his United career, and after a summer where an exit to Saudi Arabia or Turkey was explored, he stayed at United to find opportunities limited. Erik ten Hag dropped him following a chastening game against Liverpool in September, while Ruben Amorm did likewise after he and Christian Eriksen were overrun by Newcastle’s midfield in December.
Casemiro did not feature for the next month and his subsequent start came at Tottenham Hotspur on February 16 amid an injury crisis. But from there he has built back and nearly 12 months on from that nadir of Selhurst Park he is again an important figure, starting seven of the last 10 matches in all competitions. This season his disciplinary record is only five bookings.
“The important thing is that Casemiro won everything with Real Madrid,” Amorim said. “He wasn’t playing because I understood in the moment that he was not the best option to the way we want to play. But he continued to work. I look at my players in the same way. If they improve what we ask, they have the opportunity. If they play well, they continue to play. That was the situation of Casemiro. The credit is all to the player.”
It is no coincidence that Casemiro’s harder games have come against the athletic midfields of Newcastle and Liverpool, while City deployed Matteo Kovacic, who is less physically imposing. That being said, Declan Rice was anchoring Arsenal’s core when Casemiro shone.
But, as Amorim alluded, keeping Casemiro’s job brief to a smaller range of space, surrounded by three central defenders and a midfield partner, does protect him from being exposed.
Manuel Ugarte alongside is a better blend than Eriksen. But the awkward theme that has emerged is Casemiro being preferred to the 23-year-old signed in a £50.5million deal last summer. Ugarte came off at half-time at Forest, and with 71 minutes on the clock against City. Questions over Ugarte’s ability to last the distance persist following his move from Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. He has only completed six 90 minutes in the Premier League so far. Ugarte looked good alongside Kobbie Mainoo at Anfield and the Emirates, and the 19-year-old’s return to training will give Amorim a decision to make.
But Casemiro appears dialled in. Having faced scrutiny over his fitness at United previously, he revealed his excellent shape when taking off his shirt to give to a fan at the final whistle of the Real Sociedad away game. He played well in that leg and he is set for a pivotal role in the Europa League tie that holds such significance for United, against Lyon in the quarter-finals. He offers an attacking threat, twice winning headers from Bruno Fernandes corners at Forest, and firing a low shot saved by Ederson for the visit of City.
Winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League would propel Casemiro’s salary back up to around £350,000 per week, a deal that Sir Jim Ratcliffe identified as too much money for a player his age. It is why options will again be investigated, with Ratciffe wanting to maximise value from United’s wage bill.
Casemiro is on record as wanting to stay though, and while that could be a negotiation tactic ahead of any talks over a settlement on his last year, his re-emergence signals he may yet be able to see out his fourth year at Old Trafford providing meaningful input.
“He’s our player and continues to be our player,” said Amorim.
(Top photo: Simon Stacpoole/Getty Images)