Man Utd 3-1 Aston Villa: Gary Neville believes it is still right for Casemiro to depart Old Trafford despite latest set-piece heroics | Football News

Gary Neville has claimed Manchester United are still right to let Casemiro go at the end of the season despite the fact the midfielder has re-established himself as one of Michael Carrick’s important players as the Red Devils push for Champions League football

The Brazilian was on the scoresheet for the second consecutive game as he kickstarted the scoring in United’s 3-1 victory over Aston Villa – a result which sees them pull three points clear of Unai Emery’s side in the battle for third in the Premier League.

Despite being tipped to leave the club in each of the last two summers, Casemiro has remained at Old Trafford and has started in each of the last 13 Premier League games and has equalled his seasonal best goal return having notched seven in all competitions.

In January, it was announced that the 34-year-old would leave United at the end of his contract, but his recent form has led some fans to suggest that he should be kept at the Theatre of Dreams. However, Neville still believes that it’s the right decision to let him go.

“Obviously, Manchester United have been getting him at the latter part of his career. What he was is an exceptional central midfield player that played in one of the most dominant midfields that you’ll ever see at Real Madrid,” Neville said on The Gary Neville Podcast.

“But it’s right that United do let him go, and it’s right that he does leave United. This is like a cameo at the end of his career. Almost like a swansong where he’s probably loving every minute of this, and you can see it. He’s kissing his badge to the fans. The fans absolutely love him, and it’s right that he does leave at the end of the season.

“His legs at times have let him down. What I would say is there’s a period in the middle of his four-year contract where he looks heavier in his body and I don’t know what happened there.

“Whether it’s the training, whether it’s something that’s happened with him or whatever, I don’t know. But he looks fitter, he looks leaner, he looks freer and look he’s doing a great job.”

Casemiro still a ‘poor investment’

Despite his role in United’s push for Champions League qualification and other highlights including his goal in the Carabao Cup final victory over Newcastle in 2023, Neville believes that the holding midfielder has still been a poor investment for the club.

Erik ten Hag paid an initial £60m plus £10m in add-ons, while the Brazilian has remained one of the highest-paid players at the club.

“This is nothing to do with Casemiro, this is to do with Man United’s poor recruitment over many, many years and them overpaying,” Neville added.

“They’ve invested £140m in Casemiro, £20m a year in wages and £60m in a fee, that’s not a clever move because they’re now losing him for nothing.

“If you’re spending £140m on a midfield player over four years, you’d expect that there’d be some sort of residual value at the end of it. You wouldn’t be expecting that he would be running his career down and sort of getting to £35m. It’s not a deal they would do now.

“You can’t say it’s been a great investment at £140m but that’s not Casemiro’s fault.”

United losing a crucial piece in rejuvenated Casemiro

Analysis from Sky Sports’ Callum Bishop:

Gary Neville has said that Manchester United will need to sign two midfielders if they are to build on what Michael Carrick has begun to build in his interim spell in charge. And that fact is true. It would be true regardless of whether Casemiro was leaving the club or not.

But, him leaving forces them to prioritise two over perhaps one this summer and another the following, because the impact he is having likely can’t be replicated by just one player.

In his first season at Old Trafford, Casemiro was a breath of fresh air. Combative, composed and with an eye for a goal or pass that perhaps had been overlooked playing next to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. The next 18 months were far tougher. He looked unfit, at times maybe overweight, and definitely exposed especially under Ten Hag.

This season, something has changed. It was claimed Ruben Amorim personally put players on separate fitness plans ahead of pre-season, and it worked on Casemiro. As Neville said, he has looked leaner, more mobile and has been more effective at both ends of the pitch.

Defensively, the veteran ranks in the top three of all holding midfielders in the league in tackles, interceptions and possessions won in all thirds of the pitch.

On the ball, he has created more than his counterparts, been involved in more touches and has walked away with a pass completion rate that ranks in the top 10.

Add to that his threat in the area. His six goals from set-pieces are more than any other player in the entire league this season. And the nature of some of those goals are crucial. In five of the seven games he has netted in, United would’ve lost points without his contribution.

These are all stats with incredible value. And what you can’t measure is experience. For Kobbie Mainoo, there is arguably no greater mentor and he must soak up all the knowledge he can for the next couple of months.

Recruitment has not been United’s strong point over the last decade. But replacing the impact Casemiro has had this season could be their biggest challenge yet.