Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand have reignited their social media feud after Carragher conceded that his harsh criticism of Casemiro two years ago was over the top.
Carragher's Original Comments
In 2024, the Sky Sports pundit famously told Casemiro to "leave the football, before the football leaves you" following a poor performance in a defeat at Crystal Palace. Carragher suggested the Brazilian midfielder should move to the MLS or Saudi Arabia, believing his top-level days were over.
Casemiro's Resurgence
However, Casemiro has since rediscovered his best form. The 33-year-old is set to leave Manchester United this summer but has enjoyed one of his best seasons in England, playing a key role in the team's push for Champions League qualification. He publicly labelled Carragher's remarks as "disrespectful".
Carragher's Admission
Writing in the Telegraph, Carragher acknowledged: "It must be acknowledged that the implication that Casemiro was 'finished' at the highest level was too harsh and premature." He added: "This week, Casemiro suggested my remarks were 'disrespectful', and that is fair enough. Anything he says in response comes with the territory, although I would counter and say no disrespect was intended."
Ferdinand's Jibe
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand seized on Carragher's backtrack, claiming the pundit makes "more u-turns than Keir Starmer". Carragher fired back, referencing Ferdinand's support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino over World Cup ticket prices: "I'll await your full u-turn on support for Infantino & his World Cup ticket prices."
Background
Ferdinand, who was part of the World Cup draw, had initially called for "accessible" pricing but later described the high ticket costs as "justified" due to the quality of the product. Carragher also noted that United would not repeat the mistake of signing a player in his 30s on a four-year deal with massive wages, implying the Casemiro transfer was excessive.
