BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has claimed one Manchester United player’s days are numbered in Ruben Amorim’s tactical system and he would sell him in the summer.
Ruben Amorim is set to begin the first major overhaul of the Manchester United first-team squad that he inherited from Erik ten Hag after he arrived at the Red Devils.
The 40-year-old United manager took up his managerial post at Old Trafford last November after he left Sporting CP and led the club during the 2024-25 season.
Erik ten Hag’s reign as United manager ended last October after the former Ajax boss was sacked by the Premier League club following a poor start to the campaign.
Amorim received minimal reinforcements in the January transfer window, with United signing Patrick Dorgu from Lecce and Ayden Heaven from Arsenal.
However, the former Sporting CP boss will further his clear-out of the United squad when the summer window opens in June and will welcome new arrivals to the club.
Amorim’s tactical system at United needs to be supported with certain players and he faced an uphill battle at Old Trafford in the 2024-25 campaign with his tactics.
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United have shifted to a three-man backline under Amorim and the United manager relies on two No 10s and wing-backs to make his system function at Old Trafford.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Chris Sutton drops a brutal assessment on Casemiro amid Ruben Amorim’s tactical system for Man Utd
Casemiro rediscovered his form in the tail end of the 2024-25 campaign and re-established himself in the Manchester United first team as a regular starter.
The 33-year-old Brazilian midfielder impressed at times in the centre of the park and Casemiro played a key role in United’s run to the 2025 Europa League final.
However, Casemiro was unable to have the same impact in the final last Wednesday and United fell to a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
Casemiro is under contract with United until 2026 and the former Real Madrid star’s future at Old Trafford had been in doubt earlier in the 2024-25 campaign.
Speaking in his column for The Daily Mail, Chris Sutton pulled no punches towards Casemiro and isn’t convinced that he can still work with Amorim’s tactical system.
“His legs are shot,” he said.
“Yes, he’s got experience in abundance. But he cannot keep up in this system or at this level. Get Rid.”
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Chris Sutton’s stance on the Man Utd midfield for Ruben Amorim ahead of the summer transfer window
Sutton suggested that he would keep Kobbie Mainoo for the United midfield, but he would offload Christian Eriksen and Manuel Ugarte as part of a mass clearout.
Speaking on Kobbie Mainoo, he said: “I’d keep him and hope he shows why he should start.
“He could outlast Amorim and the next boss might fancy him more. Keep.”
When discussing Manuel Ugarte, however, the BBC Sport pundit added: “Not impressed by him, not for a fee that could hit £50.8m.
“Could United recoup close to that? Well, that’s not my problem! Get Rid.”
Christian Eriksen netted a penalty in United’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday at Old Trafford and the Danish midfielder will leave the club in the summer on a free.