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The likes of Casemiro and fellow summer signing Lisandro Martínez have been central to restoring that bond between players and supporters after the disconnect last season. That was probably never better encapsulated than at Stamford Bridge in October when Casemiro’s dramatic 94th minute equaliser sparked wild scenes of celebration. Now 30, the only disappointment for supporters is they have had to wait until this stage of Casemiro’s career to finally see a midfielder of that calibre in a red shirt. Casemiro with the Champions League trophy last May – the fifth he won with Real Madrid. Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images When I arrived here, and it was down to the language I was fortunate Bruno would help me a great deal,” Casemiro says. “He was always brilliant, and taught me lots about the club. I have a very good relationship with Bruno, we get on really well. In a first English campaign Casemiro has been sent off twice and suspended for eight matches, the only blemishes on a contribution that has been a prime factor in United’s success. After April’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa his post-game “debate” with Fernandes seemed heated. There had been similar scenes at the final whistle in the Carabao Cup victory. Perhaps predictably, Casemiro talks only glowingly of his relationship with his fellow speaker of Portuguese.
United would have pushed the button sooner on Casemiro had Ten Hag not hung on as long as he did for De Jong. So long, in fact, that it was only in a big recruitment meeting in the days before the Brentford game that the decision was taken to finally abandon the pursuit of the Barcelona midfielder, park interest in the likes of Adrien Rabiot and land Casemiro. Casemiro is one booking away from suspension in the Europa League, giving Erik ten Hag a headache ahead of Manchester United's first-leg tie against Real Betis. The Red Devils will welcome Manuel Pellegrini's men to Old Trafford this Thursday for a last-16 clash, having beaten Barcelona in the play-off round. Casemiro, 30, was instrumental in both legs but could find himself missing an upcoming fixture as United resume their European campaign following Sunday's appalling 7-0 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool. I spoke to my wife and she said I look like an 18-year-old kid who is super excited about his new project and I do feel so excited about playing in the Premier League,” Casemiro said during an emotional farewell ceremony. Casemiro congratulates Bruno Fernandes after he scored against Fulham in United’s last game of the Premier League season. Photograph: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images
As one goal after another flew in and Manchester United found themselves 4-0 down and humiliated at half-time at Brentford in August, there were more than a few people at the club worried as to whether Casemiro might have second thoughts about joining them.
With Casemiro, United are averaging 64.1 passes into the final third per game compared to 51.3 without him and their open play crosses, possession and pass accuracy statistics all shoot up who dramatically when the Brazilian plays. Listening to the Old Trafford crowd roar its approval whenever Casemiro makes another raking pass has, sources said, left a huge impression on the player. When it became clear that United would not get De Jong, and the truth was that he could not have been clearer from the outset about not wanting to move, the club sounded out Adrien Rabiot at Juventus. Then, bang, they got Casemiro.Casemiro is such an important player, he’s been in big places and how you see him on the pitch is the way he is off it – just a really calm guy,” Fernandes says. “He doesn’t speak English really well yet but in the way of football, the way he can communicate with his teammates, he speaks really well. Casemiro wants more and it is another line from his unveiling interview that has come to linger. “I have a lot of ambition to win,” he said. “If next year we don’t win the Premier League or the Champions League, I will be sad and angry.”
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