Casemiro (right) and Jamie Carragher - both pics GETTY
Casemiro (right) and Jamie Carragher - both pics GETTY
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has backtracked from his critical comments about Manchester United midfielder Casemiro following the outgoing Brazilian's impressive form this season. The 33-year-old is leaving at the end of the campaign.
Since arriving from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022, Casemiro enjoyed a fine first season in English football, striking seven times and providing as many assists in over 50 games across competitions.
However, the Brazilian saw a decline in form in subsequent seasons, plunging his club future into doubt, prompting Carragher to say about Casemiro in mid-2024 after a 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace:
"I always remember the saying “leave the football before the football leaves you”. The football has left him. At this top level, he needs to call it a day at this level of football and move."
However, just over a year later, Casemiro has had a spectacular resurgence, contributing five goals and two assists in 22 games in the Premier League, where United are fourth after 24 matches.
Following the Brazilian's latest outing - a goal and an assist in a 3-2 home win over Fulham on Sunday - Carragher told Sky Sports (via Metro):
"I think what Casemiro has done at Manchester United, he’s done the perfect type of thing you want from a signing. His first season was fantastic, so everyone thinks he’s a great player and of course he is a great player. And his last season he’s going out on a high so he’ll be remembered really well.
"I think the middle part of his time at Manchester United was a bit of a struggle for him. But there’s no doubt he’s bounced back. It is now fair to say that the football has not left him considering what he’s producing this season in the Premier League and not just Fulham at home. What he did last week against Arsenal away and Manchester City at home."
While he didn't provide a goal contribution in either game, Casemiro played key roles in the 2-0 home win over Manchester City and the 3-2 victory at leaders Arsenal last week.
How has Casemiro fared for Manchester United?
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro
Manchester United midfielder Casemiro
Casemiro has had a decent spell at Manchester United since arriving from Real Madrid nearly four years ago. The Brazilian has played nearly 150 times across competitions, registering 22 goals and 14 assists.
Since his debut campaign in 2022-23 - when he scored seven times - the former Real Madrid man has struck five times in each of his next three seasons, including the current one, which will be his last before he leaves in the summer.
During three full seasons at the club, Casemiro won the FA Cup and the EFL Cup, but the Premier League title remained elusive, with the club's best league finish in this period being third in 2022-23.