Man Utd have a tough decision to make when they face Liverpool FC at Anfield.
It is not long ago that Casemiro looked to be finished at Manchester United. After an impressive debut campaign, he quickly became a figure of ridicule, one who did not justify his huge wage demands and looked completely off the pace in the Premier League.
At the start of the year, Ruben Amorim claimed Casemiro lacked the 'characteristics' to play in his midfield unit, something that was apparent in the Premier League. However, he was a rejuvenated figure in Europe and proved to be a key cog in their pathway to the Europa League final, much better suited to the slower pace of the competition.
United would have entertained offers for him in the summer transfer window, but Saudi interest in his signature was exaggerated. He is one of the highest earners at Old Trafford and will leave the club at the end of the season unless he agrees to a new short-term deal on a significant pay cut.
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A contract renewal might have seemed like a ridiculous suggestion in the summer, yet there is an argument that it would be sensible. Casemiro is still the only natural defensive midfielder at the club and is vital to their hopes of any success this season. Even if they plan to overhaul their midfield next year, the 33-year-old would be a handy squad player to keep around in a reduced capacity.
Speaking earlier in the season, his agent Ocar Ribot lifted the lid on his recent rejuvenation in Manchester, with the vastly experienced midfielder one of the players who the head coach now trusts the most.
“They have a fantastic relationship that is one of absolute respect,” Ribot told the Daily Mail. “Amorim understands that Casemiro must always play because if he doesn’t things go worse for Manchester United. Casemiro is Amorim’s soldier and the two of them have great chemistry.”
It might sound like easy PR, but the stats back it up. United have seen a huge defensive improvement when Casemiro has been on the pitch so far this season. In the 325 minutes he has played, they have conceded 15 shots and an expected goals conceded of 1.37. In the 305 minutes without him, they conceded 23 shots, and the expected goals conceded rose to a staggering 5.02. With him on the pitch, United would be expected to concede 0.38 goals per 90 minutes; without him, it is 1.48. On that small sample size, they are 3.89 times more likely to concede a goal when Casemiro is not playing.
Yet despite his recent revival, he might only be on the bench this weekend. The former Real Madrid midfielder is sluggish at the best of times, but even more so after an international break that saw him play two full matches for Brazil in East Asia. Casemiro was one of those given additional time off from training this week, having played in Japan on Tuesday afternoon.
It would be no surprise if Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo are both back in the line up this weekend after they also missed Thursday's team training session, though it would appear less likely Casemiro joins them. A month ago, Manuel Ugarte started instead of him in the first match back after the September international break, and the 24-year-old wasn't named in the experimental Uruguay squad over the last fortnight.
When fully fit, Casemiro should play, but if he is not, then he could lack one of the vital characteristics of his midfield this weekend. United are about to head into battle, and they might not have one of their most reliable 'soldiers'.
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