Casemiro has “watched everything” in football over the past month as he patiently waited for his four-game domestic suspension at Manchester United to be served.
The Brazil international was handed a four-game ban following his dismissal against Southampton in last month’s goalless Premier League encounter, his second red of the campaign. He missed the subsequent wins over Fulham, Brentford and Everton, along with the defeat at Newcastle, and now he is back.
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 midfielder’s leaked text messages ahead of his switch last summer showed that he watched United’s four-goal capitulation at Brentford on the second day of the Premier League season, and told his agent to inform the club he "could fix it" for them.
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.
Signing Casemiro has proven to be inspired with the Brazilian starring for United this campaign - adding 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.
Have Your Say! Was Casemiro the signing of the summer last season? Tell us what you think here.
Oscar Ribot, whose Best of You agency acts on behalf of Casemiro, has now explained of the player’s absence in quotes carried by The Guardian : “Taking football away from Case is like taking food from his table, it’s like he can’t live, can’t breathe.
“He wakes up thinking about football and goes to bed thinking about football. He watches hundreds of games: any team, any league. I’ve seen him watch Chinese games because there is always some detail.”
Ribot added, of Casemiro’s likelihood of staying in football after his retirement from playing: “He says he won’t be a coach, but he will. He’s already one in a footballer’s body. This month, he’s watched everything, calculating the points needed and the days left.”
United fans can rest assured that their midfield star intends to finish his playing career at Old Trafford, with Ribot continuing “Case has signed for four years plus one. He’s come to win titles; this month has been hard, but there’s nothing else on his mind.”
