Casemiro’s potential ban in the Premier League has sparked talks of Kobbie Mainoo or Manuel Ugarte having to fill the midfielder’s boots.
Since the start of the 2025/26 Premier League season, Casemiro has found himself in hot water, receiving five yellow cards in a span of seven games.
With Manchester United facing an intimidating set of fixtures, talks have emerged that Ruben Amorim will have to review other midfield options.
Casemiro currently has three yellow cards to his name on the books, as two were received in the same fixture, leading the Brazilian to have already faced a one-game ban against Brentford.
With the 33-year-old almost a part of the furniture in Amorim’s preferred starting XI, people have started to wonder which talent the manager will turn to if the suspension is put into action.
Will Casemiro be suspended?
Although not confirmed, the likelihood of Casemiro being suspended again is high under Premier League regulations. This rule states that a player will receive a one-match ban if they receive five yellow cards in the first 19 games of the season.
With the Brazilian midfielder having nearly as many yellow cards as matches played this season, with five in total if you include the two received in one fixture against Chelsea, the chance of suspension is looking likely.
Despite fans and pundits criticising the player’s ability, Amorim has almost taken no notice; the midfielder has been nearly part of the furniture on a match day, accompanying captain Bruno Fernandes in 6 out of 8 games in the current Premier League campaign.
However, it almost seems the manager will soon have no other option but to use the other midfield talents in his squad, as if Casemiro accumulates a further two yellow cards, Amorim will have no choice but to turn to either Manuel Ugarte or Kobbie Mainoo.
What does this mean for Mainoo and Ugarte?
If Casemiro were to be out, a window opens for Kobbie Mainoo to make his return to the pitch after being out for a series of months due to injury and other stars being favoured in the XI.
It gives the young player the chance to claim the number six position next to Fernandes, with some reports suggesting that Amorim has been working with the 20-year-old on his defensive position. However, Mainoo is used to playing in a more central area.
The potential suspension almost gives Mainoo, who has been “criminally underused” this season, a chance to not just re-prove himself as a player who should be on the team sheet.
After last playing in May against Aston Villa, questions have arisen about Mainoo’s position at the club, with arguments that he’s been left out due to precautionary measures over injury or tactical selections by the coach.
With rumours that Napoli are interested in reuniting Mainoo with former United midfielder Scott McTominay, the idea that Casemiro may be unable to play can be a huge advantage, giving the English player a chance to earn back his title of ‘United’s star boy’ and secure his place in Amorim’s starting 11.
Read More: Manchester United’s stance on Kobbie Mainoo leaving Old Trafford in January revealed
On the flip side, Manuel Ugarte is already in direct competition with Casemiro for the starting spot in the match-day squad.
It could be argued that it’s almost inevitable Ugarte would take over the open defensive midfield position if there were a vacancy, leaving Amorim with a tough decision between him and Mainoo.
If Casemiro were to be suspended and Amorim turned to Ugarte to fill the role, it wouldn’t be ridiculous to assume that it could almost be an audition to see if the Uruguay international can take the spot of working alongside the captain in the midfield each week.
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