Manchester United midfielder Casemiro will leave Old Trafford when his contract expires this summer.
Casemiro will leave Manchester United at the end of the season
Casemiro will leave Manchester United at the end of the season
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Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui admitted it was a "sad day" when he discovered Casemiro would be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season. The Brazil international confirmed his exit in January in a bid to end speculation surrounding his future.
In his farewell statement, Casemiro said: "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." The 34-year-old has proven his worth this season, missing just two Premier League matches due to suspension and playing a key role in United's push for a return to the Champions League.
He has equalled his best league goalscoring campaign, bagging six goals including a header against Newcastle in midweek. Speaking to United's official club website, Mazraoui insisted his teammate would be missed. "I think the announcement, when I saw it, was like... it was a sad day," he said.
"He brings experience, like crazy. He knows how it is to win. He knows how it is, also, the road to win, because he has done it, he has lived it. So, yeah, we’re going to miss him a lot in the team, outside of the pitch, inside the pitch, of course."
When asked to share his favourite Casemiro moment, Mazraoui said: "One moment which just pops into my mind, he’s like, in the game, he’s really focused, of course, disciplined and everything. He wants to win every minute of the game.
"I think one time it was final whistle, we won that game. We won the ball back at the right-back spot and he was there as well to support, and I think he had the ball.
"The referee whistled and then he gave me a panna, a nutmeg, at the end of the game and started laughing and I started laughing. But yeah, that’s how he is. He’s like joking but also a really, really great guy."