Former Manchester United star Lee Sharpe believes that Casemiro could see his first-team minutes limited at Old Trafford this season under manager Erik ten Hag.
Casemiro completed a sensational move to Manchester United in 2022 after the Red Devils agreed a deal worth up to £70m with La Liga outfit Real Madrid.
The 32-year-old Brazilian midfielder was widely praised for his impact in his debut season at Old Trafford, but Casemiro’s influence waned in the previous campaign.
Casemiro came under fire for his form and lack of consistency in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, despite Erik ten Hag keeping faith with the player.
United boss Ten Hag even turned to the former Los Blancos star as a makeshift centre-back last season after his first-team squad was ravaged by injuries.
Sharpe on Casemiro and Man Utd
Casemiro has been Erik ten Hag’s preferred midfield pick alongside Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo, with the Brazilian starting the first two league matches.
The former Real Madrid midfielder started and played the full 90 minutes in the 1-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford and 2-1 defeat to Brighton at the Amex in August.
However, Casemiro had a disastrous performance in the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford earlier this month and Ten Hag pulled the United star off at half-time.
Lee Sharpe has insisted that the arrival of Manuel Ugarte at Old Trafford in the summer could lead to Casemiro facing an uphill battle at the Red Devils.
“It’s difficult to say that any player should be worried about their position in the team after just four games,” he told The Daily Express.
“Casemiro made a few obvious mistakes and gave goals away against Liverpool, but then so did Kobbie Mainoo.
“But I don’t think we’ll be seeing as much of Casemiro now that United have signed Manuel Ugarte.”
Ugarte and Casemiro at Man Utd
Ten Hag made the surprise decision to start Christian Eriksen for the 3-0 win over Southampton at the St Mary’s last Saturday after dropping Casemiro from the starting XI.
Ten Hag turned to Manuel Ugarte and handed the United summer signing his debut after he withdrew Christian Eriksen in the second half.
Casemiro, who made a brief cameo appearance against Southampton, returned to the starting XI for the 7-0 thumping of Barnsley in the third-round Carabao Cup tie.
Ugarte was heavily linked with United in the summer and the Red Devils completed the signing of the Uruguayan midfielder on deadline day in August.
The 23-year-old Uruguay international received his first start for United against Barnsley and partnered alongside Casemiro for the win on Tuesday evening.
United agreed a deal worth £50.5m to bring Ugarte to Old Trafford from Paris Saint-Germain, with Ten Hag keen to add a defensive midfielder to his ranks.
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