Casemiro is the blue-chip midfielder to solve glaring Erik ten Hag issue at Man Utd

Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday that Casemiro wanted a “new challenge”. Well, he is certainly getting one hell of a challenge at Old Trafford.

And perhaps Ancelotti’s “new challenge” is a euphemism for “new pay packet”, because the Brazilian’s salary boost is rumoured to be eye-wateringly considerable. Further, a four-year contract - with the option for a fifth - is an extremely generous commitment from Manchester United to a 30-year-old player.

But those painting this transfer as some sort of desperate act are, for once, being unduly harsh on United. This is a player in the prime of his career, with 63 caps for Brazil and a key component of Real Madrid’s recent successes.