Graeme Souness aims dig at Manchester United midfielder following potential red card incident

Both Graeme Souness and Alan Pardew have suggested that Manchester United midfielder Casemiro’s age may be leading to a drop in the quality of his performances.

Speaking on talkSPORT following United’s 2-1 win over Luton Town, Souness would repeatedly emphasise that United “do not convince” him, highlighting how poor Erik ten Hag’s side are at controlling games.

Casemiro was booked in the 34th minute against Luton, before committing another foul just moments later. Committing three fouls in the first half, both he and the also booked Harry Maguire were substituted at half-time by Ten Hag.

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Quizzed on what role Casemiro has to play in the lack of control displayed by Ten Hag’s side, as well as his overall performance against Luton, Souness, who had previously been critical of the Brazilian, would continue to do so, labelling him as “clumsy”.

“This is not new, this is how he [Casemiro] played at Real Madrid,” Souness stated. “He was famous for giving professional fouls, for stopping breakaways. Committing a foul, taking a card for the cause, in a really threatening situation. That was his career at Real Madrid.

“He’s a steady player. He doesn’t put it about. He gives fouls away. He sees danger, sometimes he’s a bit clumsy, maybe he’s slowing down. What’s he, 33-years-old now? You wouldn’t say he puts it about.

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“The biggest problem he had yesterday, which is part of the professional game, and it’s not a new thing. The biggest danger of him getting a second yellow card was the way the Luton players went after the referee every time he went near someone.

Souness’ co-host Alan Pardew who, like Souness, played his career in the centre of midfield, likened Casemiro’s situation to his own, adding:

“When you’re a central midfield player. When you’re a destroyer midfield player, i.e you are the one breaking up the attacks, making tackles, you actually age quicker than a flair player.

“Your timing is just off, you just can’t make it. You’re making more fouls, and Casemiro is in that world a little bit, in my opinion.

Pardew would then add that Ten Hag was right to take off Casemiro at half-time against Luton and that he would have done the same thing.