Casemiro could be the answer for Manchester United
Manchester United are on the verge of signing Casemiro from Real Madrid. The 30-year-old Brazilian defensive midfielder, who has won a plethora of Champions League titles with Real Madrid, is set for a move worth €70 million.
However, his new assignment will prove to be a challenge that befits his price tag. Manchester United is off to a disastrous start and Casemiro is walking into a side with a number of issues. United have lost their first two matches (to Brighton and Brentford), conceding four goals to Brentford in the first half alone.
Here are three ways Casemiro is likely to change his new club.
Better tackling and marking inside their own half
United have been guilty of conceding possession meekly inside its own half and subsequently allowing the opposition to score goals. Casemiro’s inclusion would address the issue as the Brazilian is a solid tackler and his man-marking is quite good.
Casemiro’s positional awareness means he is able to anticipate danger and, hence, should be able to help the United centre-backs out. He is also likely to bolster United’s defense while defending set-pieces. He is not very tall, but has the aerial prowess to foil the efforts of opposition forwards.
Much-needed leadership on the pitch
Okay, we have to borrow the cliché here. However, it cannot be denied that Manchester United have been lacking a leader on the pitch for quite some time. Not every footballer can be a Roy Keane or a Bryan Robson, but one expects the footballers of an elite club to show the basic sense of fighting spirit.
Casemiro is a proven winner and might be able to translate those qualities into his teammates at United. He has spent a considerable time at Real Madrid under the shadows of Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos and now it’s time for him to be a frontman in terms of leadership. Given his qualities as a player, it should not be an uphill task for him.
Unenviable passing and attacking abilities
Now it’s time to focus on the negatives. For all his defensive acumen, Casemiro is not a very good offensive player. His playing position does not require him to be one, either. However, if one takes into account Fred’s knack of playing through passes inside the opposition half or Scott McTominay’s ability to play box-to-box at times, United stand to lose in this aspect.
Casemiro is not much of a passer and cannot be trusted to help United when in need of a goal. However, United already have gifted playmakers like Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen in their squad and can afford to have a solid defensive player in midfield. Moreover, Casemiro’s big-match experience and winner’s mentality can often help turn things around for the club when the chips are down.