The beginning of the end for one, a new beginning for another. Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo were not Manchester United’s midfield double act for most of this season – not when Ruben Amorim would not start the latter in the Premier League – and will not be for the long term. Not when the Brazilian confirmed he will go when his contract expires at the end of the season.
But then, until Amorim’s sacking, it seemed that Mainoo may have been exiting earlier. There were reasons for him to leave on loan, with Napoli apparently interested. It represented a volte-face, then, and perhaps a sign that Amorim recognised his time was almost up, when he suddenly described the Mancunian as the “future” of United.
