Gabriel Jesus has urged fans to put Casemiro into Google and discover for themselves that the Manchester United midfielder is much more than a destructive force.
Casemiro slipped his defensive chains to score a spectacular winner as the World Cup favourites moved into the last 16 by beating Switzerland on Monday.
And although Jesus’ loyalty to his former Manchester City team-mate Fernandinho prompted him to resist the temptation to join Neymar and coach Tite to hail the 30-year-old as the best midfielder in football, the Arsenal striker insists he can do it all.
Jesus said: “I don’t know if people in England watched Casemiro’s career before he came to the Premier League, but I followed him for years at Real Madrid and know how many goals he scored in the Champions League.
“If you go to Google and watch Casemiro’s games for Real, you will find what he is all about. He went there and scored a lot. I have played with some good midfielders and I put Fernandinho in there as well.
“But I have spent a lot of time with Casemiro - and he is just an amazing player. Some people don’t understand that and don’t give him a lot of respect. But I do because I played with him for such a long time and know how good he is.”
Casemiro joined United in a £70million deal from Real in the summer - and Jesus is backing him to be a success at Old Trafford. Jesus, who left City to move to the Gunners after five successful years at the Etihad, insists Erik ten Hag has signed a winner.
Jesus said: “He will definitely be a good signing for United because of his quality and the way he works. It is just amazing. He is just so focused all the time.
“He’s like ‘don’t lose, don’t give the ball away.’ It has been the same everywhere he’s been – that’s why he has been so successful. If you are a player who loves to work and wants to follow a winner, then he is a great influence.”
Jesus added: “Casemiro is a massive help to everyone because he is so experienced. He lived through so many things at Real Madrid - and it has been like that his whole life.
“But it’s not just him in the squad who helps. There is Danilo, Thiago Silva, Neymar, even a little bit myself because I’ve been here a number of years now. We all try to help the younger ones, the way people helped me before.”
Casemiro’s wonder-strike to sink the Swiss illustrated the firepower Brazil have even without Neymar in the team. Jesus is still waiting for his first start to the tournament after two substitute appearances.
But after a fine start to his life with the Gunners which saw him arrive in Qatar with Arsenal holding a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League, he is starting to dream.
Asked what winning titles for both Brazil and Arsenal would mean to him, the 25-year-old said: “Yes, it would be the best in my life. I’m here and ready to fight every time as soon as I get the chance.
“We have a lot of good players who are playing very well, not just out here in the World Cup. But you have to take your chance,
“If I said to you that we don’t have real quality then I am lying because we have a lot. Not just up front, but in the midfield and the defensive line too - it’s all over.”
