Casemiro is not a popular man in the red half of Manchester right now after playing a crucial role, for the wrong reasons, in Man Utd’s loss to Spurs.
Recalled to the team due to a triple injury blow to the midfield, Casemiro struggled against Spurs to match the pace of the game and he wasn’t helped by the system either.
The Brazilian had been declared effectively unfit for Premier League football not long ago by Ruben Amorim which was clear to see again vs Spurs.
However, Casemiro remains in good spirits if his quote about his performance levels at Old Trafford is any indication.
Casemiro’s bold Man Utd claim
A major problem with the signing of Casemiro, even at the time, was that he had already played the best football of his career elsewhere.
He came to United having already won five Champions League titles, the zenith of every career achieved multiple times over.
Alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, he formed the base of arguably the most dominant midfield in football history in terms of sheer silverware won.
However, in a recent interview with Diario AS, Casemiro has claimed that while Madrid’s Champions League is the most prestigious, it is at United where he played his best season, his debut one in 2022/23.
He said: “Looking at my career, individually, my best season as a professional footballer was the first with United. I’m not saying collectively in terms of titles. Madrid’s Champions League is the ultimate, but as a player I think Old Trafford saw the best Casemiro in my first year.”
That season, he arrived to fix a broken team and made 53 appearances in all competitions, scoring and assisting seven each en route to a Carabao Cup win.
Casemiro on struggle under Ruben Amorim
The Brazilian’s peak remains that first season because it’s all been downhill since them, a trend that accelerated as Amorim introduced a more intense system.
Casemiro has been on the outside looking in and not impressing whenever he does get the chance. However, in the same interview, he reiterated his desire to help the team, accepting that he isn’t happy to sit on the bench.
He said: “I don’t know any player who doesn’t want to play and help. Also, I’d like to help the club at this time. I have a year and a half left on my contract and I’d like to fulfil it here in Manchester. I’m comfortable here and so is my family.
“I’m very grateful to the Old Trafford fans and to the club. I’m happy at club level. Happy in the dugout? Of course not. That’s another thing.”
It’s arguably not what United would’ve wanted to hear, having tried to move him on in two consecutive windows now under two different managers.
Ultimately, he’s just honouring the contract signed and agreed between both parties. It’s up to United to not repeat the mistake instead of making a villain out of a player.
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