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Casemiro dragged into Mohamed Salah war of words as Man United decision attacked

Mohamed Salah's decision to leave Liverpool dominated the headlines this week, but Casemiro's departure from Manchester United has also been caught in a cross fire

Casemiro of Manchester United warms up prior to the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at Vitality Stadium on March 20, 2026 in Bournemouth, England

Casemiro will leave Manchester United this summer, when his contract expires(Image: 2026 Getty Images)

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Roy Keane believes Casemiro and Mohamed Salah should not have announced their exits from Manchester United and Liverpool respectively. Salah's decision to depart Anfield has dominated the headlines this week.

But back in January, Casemiro revealed to the world he will be leaving United when his contract expires this summer. The Brazilian has since become one of Michael Carrick's most important players and was even serenaded by chants of 'one more year, one more year, Casemiro' by United fans.

While the Brazilian will be given a warm farewell at the end of the campaign, Keane does not believe the ex-Real Madrid midfielder should have confirmed his decision so early. The ex-United skipper also feels the same way about Salah.

The Irishman was brought onto the subject of Casemiro's final chapter during a discussion about Salah's abrupt announcement. Keane believes the Egyptian is risking the wrath of Liverpool supporters, who may find themselves feeling the winger has checked out, should he have a bad game.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane said: "Liverpool have a lot on their plate, don’t turn it into another circus act. Last year got a bit silly towards the end of the season and it can turn the other way.

"Fans can turn on him a little bit if he’s not been at it. Just say Liverpool fall off and they don’t even get into the top four or five, they’ve got teams behind them like Everton and it finishes really badly, and Salah’s in a game and he’s missed one or two chances.

"You know what fans are like. They’d be like, 'Oh he’s already switched off. He’s left the building.”

When reminded by Jill Scott that Casemiro announced his departure early, all the way back in January, Keane said: “I don’t agree with that either. I don’t think a player should announce that ‘I’m going to be leaving in a couple of months’ or he said it a bit earlier.”

When Neville interjected and said Salah and Liverpool must have been discussing this decision for a few months, Keane asked: "So what’s the benefit of announcing it? What's the big pluses?

"We had it last year with Trent. It was like, 'Oh, he’s not saying much’ and then when he said 'Actually, I’m going to Real Madrid’ it was like 'Oh you…’ and they caned him anyway. They had a go at him.”

Casemiro's final match for United will be on May 24, when the Reds travel to the South Coast to face Brighton and Hove Albion. His final home match will be on May 17, when Carrick's team play host to Nottingham Forest.

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