Manchester United will bid farewell to Casemiro at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Casemiro has announced that he will leave Manchester United at the end of the current season. This is his fourth season at the club, and it has been a dramatic journey.
Let’s relive the best and the worst moments of Casemiro’s four year spell at Old Trafford…
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Casemiro exit
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2022/23
After spending two months chasing Frenkie de Jong to no avail, Manchester United suddenly switched targets to move for another top La Liga midfielder.
Unlike the drawn out failed saga for De Jong, United’s move for Casemiro was quick and successful.
United paid £60 million to sign the five-times Champions League winner. It was a reasonable fee for a player of his quality and experience, who was not expected to be available.
The big drawback was the £350,000 wages and four-year deal, that United viewed as an acceptable risk for the 29-year-old. Not everybody agreed.
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By the time Casemiro joined up, Erik ten Hag’s United were reeling after losing 2-1 at home to Brighton, and 4-0 away to Brentford.
Casemiro was presented to fans ahead of a welcome 2-1 home win over Liverpool, before making his debut as a substitute in a 1-0 away win over Southampton.
He took the squad number 18 previously worn by Bruno Fernandes and Paul Scholes, a player he cited as his idol.
The Brazilian made a quick impression at United, winning the Player of the Month Award for October.
Casemiro scored his first United goal with a crucial last minute equaliser away at Chelsea, before a mid-season break for the World Cup.
He returned disappointed after Brazil’s quarter-final exit to Croatia, but also in time for the resumption of the Premier League season.
Casemiro established his partnership with fellow new arrival Christian Eriksen, where they embarked on a run of 17 games unbeaten together.
This was interrupted by an injury to Eriksen, and Casemiro’s first season was marred by two harsh red cards against Crystal Palace and Southampton, plus a booking that ruled him out of a clash away at Arsenal.
Casemiro with Carabao Cup
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Casemiro returned from suspension to deliver a man of the match performance to lead Manchester United to win the Carabao Cup Final in a 2-0 win over Newcastle.
The Brazilian scored United’s opening goal and delivered a defensive masterclass of a performance to shut out Newcastle’s attacks.
There was no time to dwell on the trophy win as Casemiro and United’s celebrations were cut short with a humiliating 7-0 defeat at Anfield.
Casemiro played more than 50 matches in his opening season at United, scoring an impressive volley winner away at Bournemouth, before finishing on the losing side in the FA Cup Final.
2023/24
After a successful 2022/23 that saw Real Madrid told they made a mistake with Casemiro’s sale, the 2023/24 season was far more challenging for the Brazilian.
Erik ten Hag tried to remodel his midfield with Mason Mount as Casemiro’s new partner, and the tactics backfired straight away.
Casemiro was overrun in United’s opening 1-0 win over Wolves. It was a warning sign that Ten Hag failed to heed.
Mistakes from new signing Andre Onana saw United eliminated at the Champions League group stages, despite two goals from Casemiro away at Bayern.
Amid the drama, Casemiro was sent off in a home defeat Galatasaray, attempting to clean up an Onana error.
United only began to improve after Kobbie Mainoo’s November breakthrough, but by this time injuries had really hit the club’s season hard.
Casemiro was forced to drop in at centre-back, even playing the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry at the position.
After this it began to unravel, with United taken apart in a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Palace. Casemiro also made an error in a 1-0 loss at home to Arsenal.
This led pundit Jamie Carragher to blast: “I always remember the saying ‘leave the football before the football leaves you’. The football has left him. At this top level, he needs to call it a day at this level and move.”
Casemiro was denied the chance at redemption when he was dropped from the FA Cup Final squad without real explanation in favour of Sofyan Amrabat. United won the game 2-1 and Casemiro was not missed.
He played a vital role in United’s route to the Final, having scored the quarter-final winner away at Forest. But missing out on the Wembley victory over City left more of a sour taste over his second trophy at United.
His heavy contract had been criticised by new investors Ineos, but this also meant United were stuck with him. After exploring an exit in summer 2024, United and Casemiro returned for a third season, hoping for better.
Ruben Amorim with Casemiro
Photo by Miguel Lemos/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
2024/25
Casemiro began the 2024/25 season with a lot to prove, and he began it poorly with a terrible home performance in a 3-0 loss to Liverpool.
Manchester United hoped new signing Manuel Ugarte could come as his replacement, while there was even a threat from emerging talent Toby Collyer.
Manager Erik ten Hag was fired in October, and Casemiro was revitalised by interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Van Nistelrooy built the team around a Casemiro and Ugarte partnership for four games, with United winning three and drawing four.
New head coach Ruben Amorim had different ideas, opting for Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in his opening game away at Ipswich. It didn’t really work and United set the tone for a disappointing new era with a 1-1 draw.
For two months Casemiro was gradually shunted aside. In one Europa League game against Rangers, Collyer was preferred. Amorim also suggested that Casemiro could no longer cope with the demands of the Premier League.
But by March and April 2025, Casemiro won Amorim over, with the coach glowing about how the Brazilian had adapted to his instructions.
The experienced midfielder ended the season as an automatic starter, particularly outstanding in United’s comeback win over Lyon.
Casemiro declared that 2024/25 was the most satisfying season of his entire career, with the way he had bounced back from adversity. He was also recalled to the Brazil squad by his former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.
There was a chance for Casemiro to win a third trophy, but United fell short in the Europa League Final loss to Tottenham. Casemiro was among the players who disappointed, ending the campaign on a low note.
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Casemiro seasons
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2025/26
Casemiro returned to pre-season training in top condition and picked up where he left off under head coach Ruben Amorim.
At 33, Casemiro surprised supporters by becoming more integral to the team than ever, successfully seeing off the challenge from Manuel Ugarte.
Data showed how United suffered every time Casemiro was unavailable or even substituted, with the team worryingly dependent on the midfielder.
He also proved to be a reliable source of goals, netting four times in the first half of the season against Chelsea, Brighton, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth.
Casemiro also made his first appearance at Anfield since the 7-0 loss, helping the Red Devils secure an impressive 2-1 win. It was clear by this point he had proved his doubters wrong.
Ruben Amorim’s sudden sacking saw Casemiro play under another caretaker boss, although Darren Fletcher only picked him to start one out of two games.
Michael Carrick was appointed as Casemiro’s fifth manager at Manchester United, and he instantly recalled him to his starting line-up for the Manchester Derby.
Casemiro was one of United’s best players in a 2-0 win that felt more like a 5-0 demolition, thriving with the support of a roaring Old Trafford.
Days later Casemiro announced he would be leaving Manchester United at the end of the season, ending any prolonged uncertainty over his future.
The club can now plan without him, while Casemiro can try to savour his final 16 matches in a Manchester United shirt.
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