Casemiro's Manchester United career has come to an end after Michael Carrick confirmed he won't be in the squad to face Brighton on Sunday and has already left the club.
Casemiro, 34, said an emotional farewell to Old Trafford on Sunday in the 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest. He was afforded a standing ovation when substituted before making a heartfelt speech on the pitch post-match.
Now interim boss Carrick has revealed that he decided last week that this season's Old Trafford finale would be the Brazil international's farewell and revealed that Casemiro has already departed as he takes some time off before this summer's World Cup.
"It just felt the right time, I think, for Cassie, and it was decided, he's part of that as well, so it was the right time," he said.
"We always kind of decided that last week would be his last game, so I think that went well, as well as we all could have hoped to be honest, and he's been fantastic.
"I've said a lot of things about Cassie and how well he's done for me since I've been here and for the whole club, but yeah, it was decided that it was a good time for him to finish, really."
Carrick wants to finish the season strongly but will use the clash at the Amex to give chances to some of United's young stars.
And while United will finish third whatever happens on Sunday, he's aware that Europe-chasing Brighton have plenty riding on the encounter.
"We're certainly conscious of the situation of the game and what's at stake. I think we've certainly got a responsibility for that," said Carrick.
"We've managed to put ourselves in a position where we kind of are in the position that we are in the league, and I've said that we wanted to finish strong for ourselves as much as anything, so we're approaching the game as we would any other game.
"There's a lot to play for Brighton, for Bournemouth, for all the other clubs surrounding that, so we're well aware of that."
