Casemiro has labelled Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel a 'tough' team to play against as the Brazilian closes in on a big money move to Manchester United.
A week ago, the 30-year-old's name was not even mentioned in this summer's transfer window but after the Brentford humbling in the Premier League, the Glazers and the board that represent them have stepped up their transfer game to help out Erik ten Hag. Initially, Frenkie de Jong was the prime number one target for ten Hag but the hold-up with his contract dispute means that the Red Devils can no longer just wait around and hope that things transpire in their favour.
Then it was the turn of Adrien Rabiot and after a week and a bit of negotiations, John Murtough deemed his wage expectations as too excessive. Therefore, Casemiro was the next on the agenda and despite initial fears that the Real Madrid icon would want to stay put, big wages and an opportunity to gain regular first-team football ahead of Qatar 2022 appealed greatly to a player who lost his first-team position in the early parts of 2022/23 to the more youthful pair of Edouardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.
READ MORE: Chelsea can repeat Frenkie de Jong transfer trick to land £60m Casemiro amid Real Madrid promise
The Manchester Evening News have reported that personal terms have now been agreed on top of the £60million fee. The midfielder is set to undergo his medical imminently and will sign a four-year contract.
There were brief rumours that Chelsea could hijack the deal but it is understood that new owner Todd Boehly wants to continue playing the long game with De Jong. With this in mind, what does Man United's soon-to-be newest recruit think of Chelsea and Tuchel?
Real Madrid and Chelsea have faced off four times in the latter stages of the Champions League over the last few seasons. In 2020/21, the Blues defeated Los Blancos convincingly in the semi-final on route to collecting their second ever big-eared trophy in Porto.
More recently though, Casemiro starred as the La Liga Champions enacted revenge with their quarter-final win over two legs against the reigning European and World Champions at the time. After the first leg at Stamford Bridge in which Real Madrid won 3-1, the midfielder was not fooled to think it was all over like Tuchel suggested.
"We won't fall for that," he said back at the time. "We played probably what was the best 90 minutes of our season in London last week and took a major step closer to qualifying for the semi-final but we can’t get overly confident.
"We all heard what Thomas Tuchel said. We don't buy it. We know that it will be a tough game. They are defending champions and we won’t take this game lightly, I can assure you of that."
And he was right to say this as the west Londoners nearly completed an astonishing comeback in their 3-2 win at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Chelsea fans - is Casemiro's Man United transfer going to be the signing of the summer? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
READ NEXT:
Thomas Tuchel new Chelsea attack if £22m Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang transfer is confirmed
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest updates and rumours from Stamford Bridge
Full Chelsea Premier League fixture list for 2022/23
Chelsea transfer business under the microscope in 'good deal' or 'bad deal'
Casemiro signs, De Jong decision - Thomas Tuchel's dream Chelsea midfield after £350m spend
