New Manchester United signing Casemiro says Paul Scholes was his Manchester United footballing idol growing up.
The 30-year-old admitted that he hugely admired the “incredible” Englishman’s attributes, explaining that he was blown away by the midfielder's skill on the pitch. He also namechecked Michael Carrick as another inspirational talent.
“I think there are players that you remember in your life,” he told in-house media. “So, in terms of idols in this position my idol growing up was always [Zinedine] Zidane, [but] here at Manchester United it was always Paul Scholes.”
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“He’s a player that was small but he got stuck in, he was a fighter, he gave everything on the pitch. His passing over 50 to 70 metres was incredible.”
He added: “Carrick was also a great player so I think that Manchester United have always had good players in that position and in midfield.
"The little guy [Scholes] was very good and what I loved about him when he played was that he was small but he went in hard and fair.”
United fans are hoping that Casemiro replicates such traits in a United shirt after helping Real Madrid to five Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles.
He offered insight which suggested he had been following United’s progress over the years and named three other players - including former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo - who were reliable servants for the club during Scholes’ time at Old Trafford.
He added: “You could count on him [Scholes] but in that team, you had Rio Ferdinand, [Edwin] Van der Sar, lots of players. Cris, Cristiano [ Ronaldo ] himself was here too. Manchester United is a historic club and it will always be a historic club so it's an honour for me to be here.”
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