Raphael Varane has hailed the transformational impact Casemiro has had at Manchester United, admitting "there are no words" to sum up his contributions.
Casemiro joined United in a £70million deal from Real Madrid as he ended a trophy-laden nine years in the Spanish capital, 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 dominated Europe.
The Brazilian was motivated by the challenge of joining United after watching the side’s humbling four-goal defeat at Brentford in August. After that match, Casemiro texted his agent to say : "Tell them I'll fix this."
The signing of Casemiro has proven inspired, with the Brazilian starring for United this campaign, adding balance, control and structure to a team that desperately needed such attributes. An argument exists that the midfielder, despite costing a notable fee, was the most significant signing of the summer transfer window.
The 30-year-old starred in United’s derby victory over Manchester City on Saturday as the Red Devils made it nine wins in a row in all competitions. Erik ten Hag’s side remain in all cup competitions and are comfortably in the top four, sitting just one point behind second-placed City.
Casemiro's transfer to Old Trafford saw him join up with his old teammate. He and Varane won four Champions League titles and multiple other trophies together at the Spanish giants before the French central defender departed in the summer of 2021.
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Varane struggled in his opening campaign in English football with a lack of sustained fitness due to injury, but he has become an increasingly important figure in Ten Hag’s side this campaign and is one of a multitude of players whose form has notably improved since last season.
The France international has suggested that the arrival of Casemiro has played a significant part in that and this improvement. "There are no words," Varane said of his teammate in the aftermath of Saturday’s dramatic match at Old Trafford.
"He covers so much ground. He runs so much. He’s aggressive when he wants the ball, yet calm when he has the ball. He was incredible."
Varane and Casemiro are hugely influential to Ten Hag’s United side and the continued form and fitness of the duo will be significant in the club’s hopes of success this season and ending their five-year trophy drought.
