3 months ago
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THEY arrive amid great fanfare, then slope off through a side door.
Big names who have come to Manchester United in the last ten years.
Getty
The Brazilian’s form dropped off after his red card against Southampton last seasonFlickering briefly then departing with suitcases of cash to another late career venture.
Behind them they leave more pieces to be picked up at Old Trafford and Carrington.
The latest of those following the likes of Angel Di Maria, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Alexis Sanchez and Cristiano Ronaldo II, is Casemiro.
The man who told his agent he was heading to United to ‘fix it’.
He briefly fastened some nuts and bolts and most notably scored as the Red Devils won their first trophy in six years with the 2-0 Carabao Cup final triumph over Newcastle.
Now as things start to fall apart again the five time Champions League winner, honoured at yet another football awards do this last week, looks to be on his way.
He cost United £70million.
The fact that United will be happy to let go of a player of such standing at a cut price and trim some more from their wage bill tells you of what little consequence he is now to the team.
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He basically chucked it in after one season, a season in which he could control games but equally look just off the pace.
His 13 yellow cards earned while playing for United last term bare testament to that. He got two reds as well, although there is a huge case for the defence on both.
It was after the second of those in a 0-0 home draw against Southampton on March 12th that he seemed to withdraw into his shell.
His lunge to win the ball against Carlos Alcaraz saw his boot skim over the top of the ball and catch the player.
His second red in eight games.
We have not seen the same Casemiro since.
His size and fitness on the pre-season tour of the USA was called into question.
This season injuries have reduced him to just 12 starts, oh and he got another red as well although credit goalkeeper Andre Onana for that as he sold him short against Galatasaray and the Brazilian took one for the team.
His absences have allowed the revival of Scott McTominay to continue.
With the emergence too of Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro’s departure perhaps to the Saudi League in the next week or so will not be felt as it might have been.
For players who have achieved so much elsewhere, the fight is not always still there.
His former Real Madrid team-mates Raphael Varane could be ready to jump ship too, although the return to fitness of centre-back partner Lisandro Martinez may give him the inspiration to carry on at United.
This last week he was pictured on ski slopes, but not skiing, the club and his representative were desperate to assure us.
His family were learning to ski and he was just watching, so no breach of any contract rules. So that’s that cleared up.
The new regime under Sir Jim Ratcliffe need to change their approach and find young, hungry players, reaching their peak and desperate to make their name at United.
Casemiro was not one of them.
Exit stage left from the Theatre of Dreams for another one past his sell-by date.
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