Casemiro has lifted the lid on his move to Manchester United and how life has been as a Red for the past nine months.
The Brazilian signed last summer towards the closing stages of the transfer window but was not utilised straight away by Erik ten Hag.
Instead, the manager eased Casemiro into the setup as he adjusted to the pace and physicality of England’s top flight after nine years with Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Since then, he has become an irreplaceable and crucial cog at the heart of United’s midfield and has played a pivotal role in Ten Hag’s resurgence at Old Trafford.
The difference in the squad when he plays compared to when he doesn’t is vast, so it’s no wonder why he became an instant fan-favourite amongst the United faithful.
He loves United and United loves him
Casemiro is a figure that fans have been crying out for for years, and he’s been worth his weight in gold since his arrival.
Brazil flags are often displayed around the stands in M16 along with scarves and banners for the No.18. He’s certainly feeling the love, and he’s giving it right back.
He told The Telegraph: “I’m enjoying myself as if I was a 20-year-old kid. It’s because I’m very happy here and it isn’t just me – it’s my whole family that are very happy here. The club and fans have been brilliant with me since day one. I love the affection I get from them. I feel their love towards me and I try to show this on the pitch by giving my all – my soul – in every game.”
He’s relinquishing the rebuild
The second game of Ten Hag’s tenure was a second successive loss – a 4-0 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
With negotiations already underway between the club and Casemiro, he was sat in Spain watching the game closely. Post-match, he wanted to assure the board that he wasn’t put off by the result, and sent a message to his agent saying: “Tell them I’ll fix this.”
When reflecting on the progress since then, he said: “I had no second thoughts at all. But to be honest I did say that [the text message]. I was really upbeat about coming here and taking on this new project. It was clear in my mind.
“I knew that it wouldn’t be an easy challenge because it was a tough defeat for us to take but I think the excitement of coming here and making a change … we knew there was still a long way to go in the season and wouldn’t start winning things overnight.
Bromance with Bruno Fernandes
The pair have often been spotted chatting intensely in-game and then joking around whilst training at Carrington. It’s clear to see the close friendship across the campaign.
Both players are absolutely irreplaceable in United’s midfield, and luckily for us, they’ve clicked perfectly when lining up together.
“We could spend all day talking about how good Bruno is but to be honest – and I say this to him – I expect a great deal from him because, in my eyes, he’s one of the most important players in the team. So, when he misses a chance, when one of his passes goes astray, we always want him to do everything perfectly.
“But these are normal conversations. I’ve never had an argument with Bruno – the opposite in fact. I just always demand a lot from him, and he demands a lot from me too. Behind the scenes too, sometimes we’ll say to each other: ‘You could have scored, you could have done better there, because you’ve got the quality to do it’.”
