Peter Schmeichel fears Manchester United should have pursued a player with a proven track record in the Premier League rather than sign Casemiro from Real Madrid.
The Red Devils have agreed a £60million deal to sign the Brazilian midfielder and they are willing to pay him an eye-watering £375,000 per week. Casemiro won an astonishing five Champions League titles during his time with Los Blancos and is widely-regarded as one of the finest defensive midfielders of his generation.
However, there are concerns about whether it is a wise move to hand a player of his age such a lucrative four-year contract. Schmeichel confesses he is "surprised" by United's pursuit of the Sao Paulo academy graduate given they "don't know if he can do the job" in England's top flight.
"I'm surprised that we have signed this player," the Old Trafford icon told BBC Sport. "I don't know if we've signed him yet, but that this player is now being mentioned at that amount of money and also at those wages at that age when we don't know if he can do the job...
"Maybe sign somebody that we know can play in the Premier League just for now and then maybe next year or next transfer window, we go and sign the players like Casemiro, who also are exciting players to watch."
Schmeichel's comments have been echoed by Arsenal legend Paul Merson, who told Sky Sports : "It's a difficult one. At the end of the day, the players are the ones who win you games. I don't know where they start.
Are you pleased that Manchester United are signing Casemiro? Have your say in the comments!
"They've started with Casemiro. He's a winner, so you start with a winner. But he's 30 years of age. I feel with this transfer it was like, 'Man United have come in for me? Alright, just ask for silly amounts money, and if they say yeah, I'll come, and if they don't, it's no loss'. I just don’t get it.
"He's just won the Champions League and now he's not going to be playing in the Champions League. Four-year contract... he probably wouldn’t have got a four-year contract at Real Madrid. There's so much work to be done, so so so so much work."
Although United are close to completing the transfer of Casemiro, he will not be available to face Liverpool on Monday. The Red Devils are hoping to pick up their first victory of the season after losing to Brighton and Brentford in their opening two games.
