78-touch star may have stepped closer to exit in poor Man Utd display, January move could be on

Add as preferred source on Google

Manchester United saw several disappointing performances on Monday night in a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle.

The storm which Ruben Amorim is currently shepherding Manchester United through showed no sign of ending as Newcastle picked up the 2-0 win to conclude 2024.

United were behind early and the game was all but finished by the time Amorim hooked Joshua Zirkzee in the 32nd minute.

Zirkzee was not the only player who deserved to be withdrawn with Lisandro Martinez and midfield duo Casemiro and Christian Eriksen disappointing.

Amorim retains the vocal support of the fanbase despite the struggles of his team. However, for one man, time at Old Trafford is ticking down.

• READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Man Utd’s head coach – Ruben Amorim

Casemiro disappointing in midfield against Newcastle

Against Newcastle, the midfield was a component that was particularly exposed.

Casemiro and Eriksen were nowhere near the Newcastle midfielders for the second goal and showed why the pair cannot play together.

The Brazilian boasts solid stats from the game, however, he struggled to match the pace of the game.

• 65 minutes
• 0/2 shot accuracy
• 48/60 passes
• 0 chances created
• 1 big chance missed
• 78 touches
• 1/3 long passes
• 3/3 tackles
• 3 clearances
• 1 interception
• 7 defensive actions
• 6 recoveries
• 1 dribbled past
• 5/7 duels won

Casemiro’s performance is one that leaves Manuel Ugarte a winner as he is clearly the better option in midfield. This performance likely sees Casemiro take a footstep toward leaving the club.

• READ MORE: Premier League 24/25: Man Utd Fixtures, Schedule, International Breaks & More

Saudi Arabia move could present itself to Manchester United star

Just before the United vs Newcastle game kicked off, reports began to emerge from Brazil which suggested Casemiro may depart the club in January.

According to the outlet, UOL, and journalist Andre Hernan, Casemiro is keen on a move to Saudi Arabia in January.

The Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund – which owns the big clubs in the Saudi Pro League is also keen on pushing forward to sign Casemiro in January, with the ambition of placing him at Al Nassr with Cristiano Ronaldo.

This would be a huge move, and one which greatly benefits United considering the wages it would get off the books and also it would bring in a decent fee.

With all parties likely keen on the deal happening, we imagine this could quickly be pushed forward.