In an era where transfer policy is often centred around youth, and youth alone, this season at Manchester United has highlighted the benefits of having an experienced spine in the side.
The likes of BlueCo and Chelsea, for instance, have become obsessed with signing young up-and-comers, more focused on resale value and future potential, ignoring the primary motivation of football. Winning now.
In what has been a largely positive season at Old Trafford, the driving force has been 31-year-old skipper, Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese genius not only cementing his status as the Premier League's best midfielder, but arguably also its best player.
33-year-old Harry Maguire, fresh from signing a new deal, has started every game under new boss Michael Carrick, while fellow 'veteran' Casemiro, at 34, has started 28 league games in 2025/26, scoring seven times to boot.
casemiro-man-utd
The Brazilian, for all the talk over his lack of mobility, is a force in both boxes, with his looming departure set to leave a sizeable void in the United ranks.
Fernandes & Casemiro's Man Utd connection
It may not have quite worked as a mere midfield duo, but the connection that Fernandes and Casemiro have struck up has been a joy to behold, particularly during Carrick's brief tenure so far.
As per Transfermarkt, of the 24 goals that the ex-Real Madrid man has scored in a United shirt, nine of those have been supplied by his skipper, with the pair proving a particularly deadly combination from set-pieces.
Indeed, with Casemiro netting seven times in the league this season, the last five of those have all been supplied by Fernandes, starting with his bullet header away at Nottingham Forest back in November.
The remaining four goals have all been headers too, including the expertly taken glance against Aston Villa, with it almost approaching cheat code territory, such is the reliability of that connection.
While not an obviously towering figure, Casemiro has proven such a weapon in the opposition box throughout his United stint, with that aerial threat just one asset that the INEOS regime will need to try and replace this summer.
Joint goal participation - Fernandes
Player
Rashford
Martial
Casemiro
Pogba
Garnacho
Cavani
Maguire
Hojlund
Greenwood
Amad
Finding another midfielder quite so deadly in the air, amid links to the likes of Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson and young Adam Wharton, appears rather unlikely, however, ensuring Fernandes may well have to find a new partner-in-crime to work with next season.
Man Utd "monster" could be Fernandes' new Casemiro
Such is the captain's creative prowess, he has the knack for supplying the goods to almost anyone in a United shirt, putting the ball on a plate time and again for those around him.
Casemiro-Ugarte-Man-Utd Related
Forget Anderson & Tonali: INEOS have Man Utd's next Casemiro out on loan
Man Utd's midfield solution could be a little closer to home.
Finding someone who can turn a half chance into a goal, like Casemiro, is a different kettle of fish, however, with the rest of the squad needing to step up to the plate in that regard.
If Fernandes is to find another physical focal point to feed off, both from dead-ball situations and from open play, it might well be £74m summer signing, Benjamin Sesko, with the pair having struck up something of a connection in 2026 so far.
Carrick-Sesko-Manchester-United
It was the Portuguese playmaker who slid Sesko in for his first goal of the new year away at Turf Moor back in early January, while the second game of Darren Fletcher's interim tenure saw the Slovenian header home a consolation from the midfielder's inswinging corner.
Of the 22-year-old's eight goals this calendar year so far, four of those have now been supplied by Fernandes, the best of those having arguably been the last-gasp winner at Fulham, as his midfield colleague evaded Calvin Bassey with a delightful dummy, before squaring the ball into the penalty area to be converted.
In terms of being something of a successor to Casemiro, however, that was seen most notably in the 2-1 win against Crystal Palace last month, with Sesko powering home what proved to be the winning goal.
With Fernandes drifting out into a wide right berth, United's chief creator then whipped in a pinpoint cross into the centre of the Palace box, allowing Sesko the chance to dart into space to power in a bullet header past a helpless Dean Henderson.
There were certainly echoes of Casemiro about the way the former RB Leipzig man dispatched that chance, with the 6 foot 5 giant likely to be the player that Fernandes looks to heading into next season, particularly at set-pieces.
Sesko may not be a direct partner to his captain in the centre of the park, although a fruitful combination between United's playmaking number ten and free-scoring number nine could well inspire further progress next season.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes
It is still early days, of course, but Sesko is already looking like a "monster" - as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson - in the mould of Casemiro.
Harry-Maguire-Man-Utd-contract Related
[Next to Maguire: Carrick must unleash Man Utd star who's "like Steve Bruce"](https://www.footballfancast.com/next-to-maguire-carrick-unleash-man-utd-martinez-whos-like-bruce/ "Next to Maguire: Carrick must unleash Man Utd star who's "like Steve Bruce"")
Harry Maguire has committed his future to Man Utd, with the centre of defence in safe hands at Old Trafford.