Manchester United pulled off a coup by persuading Casemiro to leave Real Madrid in 2022 and move to the Theatre of Dreams. The Brazilian enjoyed tremendous success with the LaLiga giants, winning five Champions League trophies and three league titles, among others, during his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Red Devils were preparing to embark on a fresh start under Erik ten Hag that summer and believed that Casemiro’s arrival would address their long-standing defensive midfield problem.
The Brazilian enjoyed an impressive debut campaign, helping the English giants win the EFL Cup and secure third place in the Premier League. Unfortunately, the 33 year old struggled to maintain those standards over the following two seasons.
United attempted to sign a new defensive midfielder this summer but failed to get a deal over the line.
A regular run in the team this season
Casemiro, meanwhile, has enjoyed a new lease of life under Ruben Amorim this season. The Brazilian has featured in six of United’s seven Premier League games this term, five of which were starts, and has also scored a goal.
The veteran midfielder has operated in the midfield pivot alongside Bruno Fernandes and has kept Manuel Ugarte on the bench.
The Brazilian’s contract at the Theatre of Dreams expires at the end of this season, fuelling further speculation over his future.
Recent reports suggest that the Red Devils are open to an extension, provided the player is willing to take a pay cut. Acclaimed journalist Fabrizio Romano has now offered an update on the matter.
No talks ongoing at the moment
Speaking on the Here We Go podcast, Romano said that, while Casemiro is a key figure in the squad, the Red Devils are not in talks to extend his stay at Old Trafford.
“It is a strange situation for Casemiro because he is still a very important player for Manchester United. A very important starter for Ruben Amorim and one of the most important players in the dressing room,” said Romano.
“The status of Casemiro is not just about the performances but he is a serial winner. His trophy cabinet speaks for him. The leadership of this player is unbelievable and the power in terms of trophies and experience of this player.
“So he’s still a starter but at the moment there are no negotiations to extend his contract. There is feeling around those close to the club that Casemiro might go in the summer 2026 after rejecting very important financial proposals especially from Saudi in the last few years.
“It is still not guaranteed that Casemiro and United will part ways but there is a concrete chance of them parting ways in the summer because at the moment they haven’t started discussing a new contract with Casemiro.”
With a new midfielder high on United’s agenda in 2026, Casemiro is likely to struggle for game time if he stays. The ex-Real Madrid man is also one of the club’s highest earners, so his potential exit would help ease the wage bill.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian is already in the twilight of his career, so it may be wise for the Red Devils to look to the future.
Featured image Jan Kruger via Getty Images
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Deepungsu Pandit
Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.
