Casemiro will leave Manchester United at the end of the season after Luke Shaw revealed what his team-mates say about the Brazilian midfielder in jest
Casemiro of Manchester United (R) congratulates Luke Shaw of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on February 4, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Luke Shaw spoke about his Manchester United team-mate Casemiro(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside, Offside via Getty Images)
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Luke Shaw once revealed what the Manchester United dressing room really thought of Casemiro by sharing an inside joke amongst the squad.
United confirmed this week that Casemiro will leave the club when his contract expires this summer. The 33-year-old Brazilian's £350,000-per-week deal is up at the end of the season, with United deciding not to offer fresh terms.
The five-time Champions League winner arrived at United for £60million in August 2022 during Erik ten Hag's reign and made an instant impression, scoring seven times and registering seven assists in that campaign despite operating as a defensive midfielder.
Casemiro's time at Old Trafford has seen him feature in 146 matches and find the net on 21 occasions to date, though the veteran’s greatest impact came on the defensive end.
Comments from United team-mate Shaw highlighted that defensive importance during his debut season, as the English left-back emphasised how much the rest of the Red Devils squad valued his tackling ability, while also mentioning perhaps his biggest flaw.
Shaw said in a press conference in 2023: "I think it's obvious to see how important he is to the team. For us as defenders, it gives us a feeling of security. He loves to win the ball back and tackle.
Nelson Semedo of Wolverhampton Wanderers is tackled by Luke Shaw and Casemiro of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester United at Molineux on February 01, 2024 in Wolverhampton, England.
Casemiro's tackling is his best trait(Image: Getty Images)
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"We joke he likes to give the ball away so he can win it back. I'm very happy to have him back tomorrow night because he's been a big miss for us."
Prior to that, Casemiro's Brazil team-mate Raphinha also lavished praise on the former Real Madrid midfielder. "Man, Casemiro is a player that I always talk about to my friends, my relatives. Casemiro is a player that I’d particularly like to have on my team," Barcelona's Raphinha told ESPN Brasil.
"Because in addition to the experience he has in football, in the things he has achieved in football, he’s a great leader, he’s a great person and he manages to complete a team with the football, with the quality he has, and with the defensive part that for me, he’s one of the best defensive midfielders in the world."
Such comments underscore the defensive qualities United and Michael Carrick's managerial replacement will miss next season, as well as his experienced voice in the dressing room. Several young midfielders have already been linked with a United transfer as the club look to rebuild their engine room.
Casemiro said this week: "I will carry Manchester United with me throughout my entire life. 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.
"It is not time to say goodbye; there are many more memories to create during the next four months. We still have a lot to fight for together; my complete focus will, as always, remain on giving my everything to help our club to succeed."