Manchester United have confirmed that Casemiro will depart the club in the summer.
The 33-year-old joined United for a fee of £60 million in the summer of 2022 from Real Madrid and signed a four-year deal at the club under then manager Erik Ten Hag, winning two trophies under the Dutchman.
The Brazilian midfielder is understood to have a one-year extension option in his contract, but the club and player have decided to part ways - as confirmed in a post to social media on Thursday.
"From the first day that I walked out at this beautiful stadium, I felt the passion of Old Trafford and the love that I now share with our supporters for this special club", he said in a statement released by Manchester United.
"I will carry Manchester United with me throughout my entire life.
"It is not time to say goodbye; there are many more memories to create during the next four months.
"Thank you everyone who made this time in my life so special."
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Casemiro has appeared for Manchester United 146 times, including 21 times this season, after initially falling out of favour under Ruben Amorim, who initially struggled to find a place for the ageing star in a two-man midfield.
Netting 21 times so far for the Red Devils, the Brazil international appeared revitalised after a difficult spell under Amorim, who at times opted to use the likes of Toby Collyer and Manuel Ugarte instead of the former Madrid man.
The five-time UEFA Champions League winner was not without success in Manchester, heading in the 2023 Carabao Cup final victory against Newcastle to guide the club to their first piece of silverware in six years.
With Casemiro being on a reported £350,000 a week at United, the Brazilian's departure will leave plenty room in the wage for potential replacements, leaving the club as the highest earner at Old Trafford.
He will leave Manchester United with skeletal senior midfield depth consisting of Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte.
It is no secret that United are looking to bolster their midfield options in the upcoming summer, and with the departure of Casemiro now confirmed, it makes it even more likely that they will look to pursue multiple targets in the midfield area.
The club have been relentlessly linked with Brighton's Carlos Baleba, who was thought to be a main target of former boss Ruben Amorim. However, with the Portuguese no longerManchester United manager, and after a lacklustre 2025/26 campaign so far, it poses the question of whether United may look elsewhere, especially given a reported £100 million asking price.
Another reported target for Manchester United has been Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest. The Scottish international has become the main man after two seasons in the Midlands, starting all of Forest's 22 games this season.
Anderson has a reported price tag around the £85 million mark, only two years after his £35 million move from Newcastle in 2024, however has previously been linked to Manchester City making for fierce competition for his signature.
The name highlighted by most Manchester United fans is, of course, Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton, who was linked to United prior to signing for the London side in 2024 from Blackburn Rovers for a reported £18 million.
A summer pursuit of the Englishman may come too late for the Red Devils however, as they are likely to face opposition from the likes of Liverpool and potentially Real Madrid for the Palace star.
This could force Manchester United to look towards Europe, with the likes of Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller and Atalanta's Ederson both being mentioned in the lengthy list of potential midfield targets.
Although, with the recent return to the side for Kobbie Mainoo, starting his first Premier League game of the season in the recent derby victory over Manchester City, it is possible that United cost-cut yet again, and opt for a cheaper alternative in the likes of **Al-Hilal**midfielder Ruben Neves or academy graduate James Garner, who has been linked with a move back to the club after a strong season with Everton.