Casemiro will not be leaving Premier League giants Manchester United for Sao Paulo this summer with president Julio Casares ruling out a return to his former club for the Brazil international.
With his 32nd birthday arriving a few days ago and with Casemiro looking very much like a man with slightly too many miles on the clock – the ferocious aggression which made him such a hit in Erik ten Hag’s debut season not quite there any longer – the former Real Madrid enforcer could be one of the first victims of Ineos’ Old Trafford overhaul.
According to reports, Casemiro may be the latest big-name to join Cristiano Ronaldo and co in Saudi Arabia.
There has been some speculation regarding a return to South America too. But a man who made his senior debut for Sao Paulo over a decade ago will not be making a Lucas Moura-style homecoming. Casemiro is simply too expensive for the Tricolor.
Casemiro could leave Manchester United
“Sao Paulo always follows every great player within our means. In Casemiro’s case, there is nothing,” Casares, the club’s president, tells Metropoles.
“He is a great player who trained here. An extraordinary guy. A leader, a good player. But there is nothing.
“Sao Paulo is strict about the size of the investments we make. And of course we will always observe possibilities, look at situations, but within financial and budgetary responsibility.
“For now, the answer is no. There’s no conversation.”
Ineos overhaul begins
Casemiro, who joined the Red Devils in a deal worth up to £70 million back in 2022, is reportedly Manchester United’s top earner on £350,000 a week (Spotrac). That puts him just above former Real Madrid team-mate Raphael Varane.
Varane is also expected to depart in the summer window. He already has an offer from Al-Ittihad lined up.
According to The Sun, Ineos chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen to introduce a more prudent wage structure at Old Trafford, similar to the one utilised by rivals Man City. The appointment of former City chief Omar Berrada as United’s new CEO should go some way to making Ratcliffe’s ambitions a reality.
In addition to Casemiro and Varane, United may also look to move on the likes of Jadon Sancho, Christian Eriksen, Donny van de Beek and Harry Maguire, while Anthony Martial’s contract will expire in July.
Ten Hag, meanwhile, confirmed that Casemiro is available for tonight’s FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest. He suffered a head injury in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Fulham.
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