Fred says Manchester United “really needed” a player like Casemiro this season.
Finding a defensive midfielder during the summer was essential and amid a failed Frenkie de Jong chase, Erik ten Hag secured the signing of 30-year-old Casemiro on a four-year deal with the option for an extra 12 months.
The five-time Champions League winner has set United back an initial £60m, which could increase to £70m, but many fans feel it’s a price worth paying for a world-class midfield pivot. Casemiro is yet to make his full debut for the club, having come off the bench in the 1-0 wins over Southampton and Leicester this week, but could make his first start against Arsenal on Sunday.
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Fred said the former Real Madrid lynchpin will add quality to the squad as United try to secure a top four finish. Speaking to ESPN Brasil, he said: “Casemiro already has more experience. He’s a great player, he’s coming from a Champions League title now.
“He’s a guy that everyone knows about quality. So it will add a lot to us as the first midfielder there, that we really needed a player like Casemiro, his style of play.
“So there’s a lot [he] adds to our squad, to the team, to the coach himself. I hope he can adapt as quickly as possible and help us throughout the season.”
Fans had been critical of Fred’s midfield partnership with Scott McTominay over the last few seasons. Many expect him to partner Casemiro in midfield given their Brazil national team links but he has not started since the 4-0 drubbing at Brentford.
Fred has not played more than 53 minutes in a game so far this season with McTominay chosen to play alongside the deep-lying Christian Eriksen in recent matches. When asked whether he will try to rekindle his international partnership with Casemiro at United, Fred stayed coy and pointed to the competition he faces for a starting spot, albeit seemed up for the challenge.
“We’ve been playing together for a long time at the national team. But I don’t know, it’s difficult, it’s going to give the coach a headache here,” he said. “Eriksen also arrived, there’s Bruno [Fernandes], McTominay, [Donny] van de Beek.
“They are great players that we have here in midfield. So whoever he puts in will seek to do the best for the team. It will be a healthy contest, a very good contest.”
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