Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has secured a significant financial payout from his former club, Sao Paulo, bringing a long-running legal dispute to a close.
Court Settlement Ends Decade-Long Dispute
According to reports from Brazil, a formal agreement was reached this week to settle a labour case that had been active since 2014. The regional labour court approved the settlement, which will see the 33-year-old Brazilian international receive £247,000 from Sao Paulo.
The claim was related to various employment-related payments from Casemiro's time in the club's academy system before his transfer to Real Madrid in 2013. It included image-rights charges, match earnings, bonuses, and holiday entitlements that were reportedly left unpaid.
Payment Terms and Potential Bonus
Casemiro will receive the agreed sum on a monthly basis over the coming year. However, the settlement includes a clause that could see the total payment increase. If Sao Paulo fail to adhere to the payment schedule, the amount owed could rise to as much as £363,000.
This payout provides a welcome year-end boost for the player, on top of his substantial Manchester United salary. The original claim was understood to be worth around £290,000, making the final agreed figure slightly less.
Focus Shifts Back to United's Campaign
The resolution of this off-field matter comes as Casemiro's immediate footballing future becomes a topic of conversation. He will be free to negotiate with clubs outside England from next month as he enters the final six months of his contract at Old Trafford.
Despite speculation over a summer exit, Casemiro stayed and has been a key performer for manager Ruben Amorim. He played the full 90 minutes in United's 2-1 win against Crystal Palace last weekend, but his game time may need managing with a busy schedule ahead.
The midfielder is currently on four yellow cards in the Premier League, risking suspension for one of the upcoming fixtures against West Ham United, Wolves, or Bournemouth. United, who have lost just once in their last seven league games, could move into fourth place with a victory over West Ham.
When asked about Champions League qualification, Amorim emphasised a game-by-game approach: "Let's focus. I think the best way of doing things, especially with our team, is to focus just on the next game."
