Erik ten Hag got a glimpse of the character that Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has brought to Manchester United in the aftermath of his team's battering at Brentford.
The five-time Champions League winner was watching from his home in Madrid in August as the club that wanted to bring him to the Premier League were humiliated 4-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Seven days earlier, Ten Hag’s reign had kicked off with a home defeat at the hands of Brighton. Casemiro’s response was to call United football director John Murtough. Not to tell him that he was having doubts about leaving Real Madrid - but to give assurances that he couldn’t wait to get started at Old Trafford.
No. 1 summer target Frenkie de Jong may have still been in Barcelona arguing over money, but this wasn't a player leaving Real Madrid for a final pay-day. Casemiro had to wait six weeks before Ten Hag gave him his first Premier League start in the comeback victory at Everton. That was the start of a five-game unbeaten run that has United touted as top-four contenders.
Casemiro’s manic celebration after heading home an injury-time equaliser at Chelsea gave United’s fans another glimpse of the passion he has for his new club. But United knew what they were getting before they agreed to pay Madrid £60million upfront and another £10million in add-ons. 18 trophies in nine years at the Santiago Bernabeu, 65 caps for Brazil and a Copa America medal illustrate Casemiro’s quality.
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But Murtough had first made contact with the midfielder while he was still in talks with Barca about trying to break the contractual deadlock that would keep De Jong at the Nou Camp. He was impressed with what he heard.
That was the start of a deep-dive into the Brazilian’s personality and background that convinced the club that the prospect of wearing the United shirt really had got Casemiro’s pulse racing. The Red Devils walked away from a number of deals in the summer because they felt the players they had targeted were more interested in what they could earn rather than what they could win.
Brazilian winger Antony and Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez followed Ten Hag from Ajax by forcing the issue after the Dutch club made it clear they didn’t want to sell.
United agreed a deal for Antony that could eventually see Ajax bank £86million after the Eredivisie champions set them a valuation after initially rejecting United’s approach.
The forward had warned the Amsterdam club that they would have an unhappy player on their hands if they blocked his dream move. Martinez was just as insistent.
Arsenal were in pole position to sign the 24-year-old but were blown out of the running when United tabled a deal worth in excess of £57million when add-ons are included.
Martinez was one of four left-footed centre-backs on the list of potential targets Murtough had drawn up before Ten Hag’s arrival. The Dutchman made it clear that Martinez had the technical ability and the tenacity he wanted to bring into his defence.
The aggressive Argentine is already a cult hero with the Stretford End, while club skipper Harry Maguire will be joining-up with England’s World Cup squad as doubts grow about his long-term future at Old Trafford.
United face Aston Villa twice in the space of five days, travelling to face the struggling Midlands club in the Premier League on Sunday before facing them in the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
A trip to Fulham follows next Sunday before the domestic season goes into winter hibernation for the World Cup. Villa will be managed for the first time by Unai Emery, the former Arsenal boss who quit Villarreal to take charge following the sacking of Steven Gerrard.
The Spaniard’s last meeting with United was in May 2021 - when he guided Villarreal to victory in the Europa League final after a dramatic 11-10 success in a penalty shoot-out. Only six of the United players who started that night in Gdansk will be in contention for Villa Park.
