The Premier League have provided a tactical review of Casemiro’s form at Manchester United and one statistic stood out.
Manchester United announced last month that Casemiro will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Casemiro moved to Old Trafford from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022 and has won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in that time. He scored the opener in the 2023 Carabao Cup final against Newcastle.
After a difficult 2023/24 campaign, the Brazilian has bounced back and become one of the club’s most important players again. He has been crucial in the recent upturn in form under Michael Carrick.
With 14 games remaining, the midfielder will be desperate to guide United back into the Champions League and end his time with the club on a high note.
Premier League provide staggering Casemiro statistic
Casemiro’s resurgence has garnered plenty of attention in recent weeks. Jamie Carragher even admitted that the football has not left the Brazilian midfielder, after originally mocking him two years ago.
The official Premier League website has even uploaded a tactical breakdown of Casemiro’s form, in collaboration with Opta Analyst, this week.
Within this piece, it was noted how Casemiro has played 145 line-breaking passes in the Premier League this season. A graphic of those passes was attached and can be read below.
It was added how only nine midfielders in the Premier League have completed more line-breaking passes than Casemiro this term, but all of them have played more minutes than the ex-Real Madrid midfielder.
One of those passes was the no-look assist for Matheus Cunha against Fulham. Three more of his line-breaking passes led to goals, and only three players in the division better that record.
Casemiro is not easy to replace
Casemiro will need to be replaced in the summer at Old Trafford and many are talking about the need to find a physical leader. Someone who can thrive defensively and break up play.
But it is often forgotten how important Casemiro has been for United in possession, and that line-breaking pass graphic suggests that it will be difficult to find the right replacement.
Read more: Man Utd ‘keen to offload’ Manuel Ugarte after Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia this summer
His in-possession abilities were overlooked during his time at Real Madrid, where Luka Modric and Toni Kroos stole the show so often, but Casemiro has shown that he can be extremely useful with increased responsibility.
United will need to be smart in the transfer market when it comes around and new midfielders will probably have certain attributes that Casemiro no longer possesses, but replacing the full package of the Brazilian will not be simple.
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