“Plays like a quarterback”: United have perfect heir to Casemiro’s throne in cultured left-footer – opinion

Casemiro’s revelation that he is leaving Manchester United has reshaped how the club approaches the summer transfer window. Even before the announcement, it was clear that strengthening midfield sat high on INEOS’ agenda. Now, with the Samba star departing, United’s push to reinforce the engine room is no longer simply about signing a top midfielder; it is also about actively seeking his perfect replacement. The South American midfielder’s rare blend of elite defensive acumen, leadership and big‑game experience has been invaluable. His influence has been so evident that United often look exposed and have so often fumbled matches whenever he is absent. Replacing him will not be straightforward. United’s best move is to search for those rare midfielders who blend defensive solidity with modern, high‑intensity, ball‑playing qualities, much like Casemiro, whose attributes are so hard to find. Casemiro’s heir The suggestion is that Elliot Anderson could be that player. But what if United fail to win the Anderson race? Well, whether they succeed or not in the chase for the Nottingham Forest star, INEOS should not overlook Lisandro Martinez as a natural fit for Casemiro’s profile. Analyst Ben Mattinson once argued that Martinez possesses everything needed to become a world‑class defensive midfielder, and recently we were given a clear glimpse of what he meant. Martinez brilliant as DM versus Aston Villa In the second half of United’s 2‑1 defeat to Aston Villa, Martinez stepped into the defensive midfield role and delivered a brilliant performance. Stationed in front of the defence, he sprayed passes forward at will and drove the ball himself with authority. Lisandro Martinez in central midfield (45 minutes) vs Aston Villa Statistic Minutes played in midfield45 Aerial duels won100% Total touches38 Passes attempted32 Passes completed29 Passes into the final third5 Ball recoveries3 Shots1 Stats above underline how influential he was at the centre of the park. And while that was just a single performance, even at centre‑back, we have often seen the 5ft 10 defender pinging balls over the top, splitting defences with long passes, and carrying possession forward as an unorthodox playmaker in his own right. Lisandro Martinez is like a quarterback 🏈@ManUtd 🔴 pic.twitter.com/J3rPKVLiwM — Premier League (@premierleague) February 5, 2026 Casemiro’s leadership, fight, desire, and passion are often praised, and Martínez embodies all of these qualities as well. Moreover, the ex‑Ajax man’s elite reading of the game, aggressive tackling and superior ball‑playing skills mean he can provide the same defensive steel and composure in midfield as the United number 18. Still make the planned midfield signings Of course, this tactical tweak does not mean INEOS should abandon other midfield pursuits. They can still move for Carlos Baleba and Anderson while simultaneously converting Martinez as an option for their engine room. Yoro and Heaven’s pathway cleared Ultimately, shifting the Argentine to midfield would clear the pathway for Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven to progress at centre‑back. With Martinez predominantly at midfield, they would get more opportunities to feature. It should also encourage United to pursue another physically dominant centre‑back like Tarik Muharemovic, unveiling a monstrous defensive pairing reminiscent of the Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic era. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.