Rúben Amorim has been forced into a Casemiro U-Turn after the Brazilian’s revival at the start of the 2025/26 season.
Many would not have predicted this when Rúben Amorim first took over, but Casemiro has been a mainstay in this Manchester United side this season, with his experience showing in the three wins in a row United have achieved.
The Brazilian has started in seven of the nine Premier League games this season and has seemed to have struck up a better understanding of, not just the system, but a partnership with Bruno Fernandes in the midfield.
Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte have been kept out of the side for the majority of the season due to the excellent performances of the new midfield duo, although the double pivot has seriously benefited from Amorim’s tactical tweak.
Casemiro has also scored twice this season, including a goal in the recent 4-2 thriller against Brighton, where his long-range effort deflected off of Yasin Ayari and left Bart Verbruggen stranded in goal to double United’s lead.
Indispensable member of the dressing room
Pete Hall of the I Paper has reported that off the field, the five-time Champions League winner has become a vital part of the dressing room.
As a fellow Brazilian, he has helped Matheus Cunha settle in at the club. More importantly, Casemiro has been offering guidance and support to the younger players in the dressing room.
Being one of the most decorated players in the game, let alone at the club, there is so much that, not just the youth players, but also the more experienced players can learn from him. From being on the periphery of the team to battling hard to get himself back into the side, he has become a great role model at the club.
Amorim himself admitted this when he spoke to the media after the Brighton game: “I think he gives a lot of experience. He’s an example for everyone.
“In the beginning, he was behind every midfielder, even Toby [Collyer], but he fought and he worked, and now he’s back in the national team. He’s so important for us,” he said.
Will he stay next season?
The 33-year-old’s contract expires next summer, and for the last year has been repeatedly linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
Had people been asked in the summer, not many fans would have wanted to give a contract extension. But with his recent uptick in form and with how vital he has become to the culture of the dressing, perhaps a short-term deal may be beneficial to the squad.
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However, the sticking point will be his astronomical wages. It is no secret that INEOS are looking to reduce the wage bill at the club, and should Casemiro stay, he would have to take a drastic wage cut.
To help fund the Old Trafford rebuild, Sir Jim Ratcliffe may be forced into letting the former Real Madrid midfielder leave the club, even if he wants him to stay.
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