The change has been palpable at Manchester United the last few days with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s brutal and refreshing honesty catching many off guard.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe addressed a raft of issues at Manchester United in multiple interviews, ranging from past mistakes to the legacy inherited from the Glazers.
One of the comments that stood out was him revealing that United still owe payments to selling clubs on transfer of the likes of Antony, Casemiro, Rasmus Hojlund, and more.
It’s not usual for an owner to namecheck players still at the club, especially in the context when the talk was about players “overpaid” or “not good enough”.
Casemiro’s reaction to those comments by Ratcliffe can now be revealed exclusively by United in Focus.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Casemiro arrived as a panic-buy in the dying embers of the 2022 summer window when the player Erik ten Hag had chased all along, Frenkie de Jong, became unattainable.
The Brazilian had a blinder of a first season, which quietened the “panic” narrative surrounding his transfer but the risk the club took by signing him was immediately visible in the next season.
Arriving for a fee close to £60 million, Casemiro’s best years had already been spent in Madrid so the decline was clear from his second season.
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That makes it all the more unbelievable when Ratcliffe revealed that United are still paying for his transfer, probably via amortisation.
Transfer insider Graeme Bailey, speaking to United in Focus, has now revealed that the midfielder has taken offence to Ratcliffe’s comments, with the club accelerating efforts to seal his exit.
Bailey said: “United still working hard with the Pro League to try and get him out, they are in constant contact with them – they realise they are only place that can get him out and take his wages – if not they are looking at possible loans, which they are keen to avoid.
“We can also confirm that Casemiro is one of the players that have been left ‘shocked’ by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments and has taken offence. This could complicate things. United would like the Brazilian to take a wage cut ahead of a possible move away but that looks unlikely now.”
Casemiro-Sir Jim Ratcliffe situation has been complicated
While Ratcliffe’s comments are surprising, Casemiro has always been a player who’s been namechecked by him when talking about bad business.
It’s not the first time he’s been the centre of criticism from Ratcliffe, but to be fair to the player, he signed a contract agreed to by both parties.
Diplomacy would have arguably been the need of the hour since the Brazilian seems determined now to dig his heels in and see his contract out.
He is well within his rights to do so, and this aligns with Ratcliffe stressing that past mistakes will take time to fix at Old Trafford.
Perhaps all parties could have gone about it in a better manner that would have suited the best interests of everyone.