Ruben Amorim hasn’t been afraid to effectively punish some players during his time at Man Utd by sidelining them completely, but one star who did everything right continues to be an uneasy fit.
The 2025/26 season at Man Utd kicked off with a goalless draw against Leeds United in Sweden, which marked the debut of Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon.
Ruben Amorim was excited about Cunha’s partnership with Bruno Fernandes going forward, while he had words of praise for Diego Leon.
However, his transfer demand of Ineos continued to hint that a player who completed a remarkable transformation at Old Trafford last season will always remain an uneasy fit as long as he’s here.
Ruben Amorim is struggling to find Casemiro’s place
Ruben Amorim made his intentions for the season clear when he found a new role for Bruno Fernandes against Leeds and stuck to it.
Fernandes started alongside Casemiro, with Toby Collyer pushed up front to accommodate Amad as the wing-back, a role that he will be regularly featured in this season.
Casemiro wasn’t bad against Leeds; he even created a couple of chances with his passes and flicks, but Amorim stressed again about the lack of athleticism in midfield after the game.
Anyone who followed Amorim’s Sporting team knows how obsessively Morten Hjulmand used to eat up the ground, something which Bruno Fernandes does too.
Casemiro had become unwanted at Old Trafford soon after Amorim joined due to his lack of athleticism and advancing age.
To the Brazilian’s credit, he was a model professional and forced his way back into the team, ending the 2024/25 season as the first name on the teamsheet.
However, nobody can beat Father Time forever, and Amorim continuously hinting that the midfield is lacking athleticism has to hurt Casemiro’s chances at United.
He deserves credit for what he did to turn it around at the club, but it couldn’t be clearer that Amorim is having to do with Casemiro as an option, instead of wanting to do with him.
Both sides need to compromise for Man Utd
It’s clear that there is a marriage of necessity between Amorim and Casemiro, and both sides deserve credit for not letting it spiral into something unworkable, like it has done with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.
Amorim kept an open mind and rewarded professionalism, while Casemiro kept his head down and did what was in his control to the best of his abilities.
That is how the two sides need to continue at United because Casemiro’s contract is unsellable, and United’s midfield options aren’t world-class.
Casemiro’s dressing room presence and performances in the right system that hides his weaknesses and amplifies his strengths are the way to go.
Amorim might phase him out slowly, especially if he gets his wish of a new midfielder, but until then, the compromise needs to continue.
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