Neymar has been linked with a shock transfer to Manchester United and the Paris Saint-Germain superstar has already hailed the influence of Casemiro, his Brazil international team-mate.
Casemiro joined United in a £70million deal last summer to end a trophy-laden nine years at Real Madrid – where he won five Champions League crowns at the base of a midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. The trio formed a formidable partnership that largely dominated Europe.
The Brazilian’s arrival has helped transform Erik ten Hag’s team this season. He has added balance, control and structure to a team that desperately needed such attributes. He can consider himself as unfortunate not to be a contender for the Player of the Year award in the Premier League.
Casemiro is not the only Brazilian at Old Trafford. His international teammates Fred and Anthony – who also joined last summer, from Ajax – are also in Erik ten Hag’s squad. They have now been linked with a sensational move for Neymar.
Mirror Football exclusively reported that Neymar could leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer after six seasons at the club. It is not believed that United are considering adding the forward to their ranks, although reports have claimed that talks have been opened.
The Premier League is the only realistic escape route for Neymar out of the Parc des Princes this summer with United one of a small group of clubs who could fund an approach. If that ever did come to fruition, Neymar has already made his feelings clear on Casemiro.
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During the World Cup, Casemiro played a key role for his nation in a group-stage victory over Switzerland as he struck late on to secure a difficult but deserved win for Tite’s team. That win was achieved without Neymar, who was ruled out through injury.
The Paris Saint-Germain star took to his Twitter account following his nation’s victory, honouring his international team-mate: “Casemiro has been the best midfielder in the world for a long time.”
United are in a state of flux currently with deep uncertainty over the club’s ownership situation. The Glazer family have continually pushed back their deadline to complete a sale of the club with the ownership situation at Old Trafford still unclear, despite their intentions of listening to offers – both majority and minority investments – coming over six months ago.
The third and final deadline for bids came earlier this month with a group led by Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim taking on a bid from INEOS, run by Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Yet the Glazers remain at the helm and could yet dictate the club’s transfer business.
