Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is set to become the Brazil national team’s next captain on a permanent basis after an outstanding return to form during the September international break.
Following a sluggish start to the new Premier League season, Casemiro is showing a few tantalising signs of getting back to his bone-rattling best on international duty.
The veteran enforcer was outstanding as Brazil hammered Bolivia 5-1 on Friday night. And, according to South American publication UOL Esporte, Casemiro’s vast experience and his influence on and off the pitch is likely to earn the Manchester United star the captain’s armband for one of world football’s most iconic national teams, ahead of the likes of Neymar, Marquinhos and Alisson Becker.
Man United’s Casemiro to become Brazil captain
“(Casemiro is a) very big player. Extremely technical. (He) knows a lot about the position,” Brazil coach Fernando Diniz explains. “I’ve known him since Sao Paulo.”
The report adds that Diniz is weighing up the pros and cons of utilising Casemiro in a more advanced ‘number eight’ role, making use of his goal threat from deep. Only three players in Diniz’s current Brazil squad – Neymar, Richarlison and Gabriel Jesus – have found the net more times for the Selecao than Casemiro’s seven.
“He almost played with the number eight shirt. He is very intelligent, a great leader of our team,” Diniz says.
“I had this conversation with him. I think he will benefit (from a more attacking role) a lot because he has a lot of quality, but sometimes that is hidden by his more protective role, and he ends up not appearing as much.”
Back in form
Casemiro remains one of the first names on Erik ten Hag’s team-sheet too. And the Dutchman will be hoping that he can rediscover last season’s form when paired with deadline-day signing Sofyan Amrabat.
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“Sofyan Amrabat, we believe, (will) go in there alongside Casemiro. They want to buy Amrabat for a reason,” United legend Gary Neville tells Sky Sports.
“One thing that Ten Hag is not going to do is go back to the likes of Fred and Scott McTominay. He believes (they) are technically not good enough on the ball. He wants everybody in the team to be able to accept the football and receive it.
“Amrabat; He is a passer of the ball and can sit in there alongside Casemiro.”