From Premier League Pariah to Brazil's Main Man
In a stunning career reversal that few could have predicted, Brazilian midfielder Casemiro has completed one of football's most remarkable comebacks. The 33-year-old was named as manager Carlo Ancelotti's 'most important player' following Brazil's dominant 2-0 victory over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
This glowing endorsement comes just eighteen months after Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher declared the midfielder 'finished at the top level' following a series of disappointing performances. The criticism appeared justified at the time, with Casemiro having been brutally dropped from the Brazilian national team and starting only six of Rubén Amorim's first sixteen matches at Manchester United.
The Dramatic Fall From Grace
Casemiro's decline appeared terminal earlier this year. The former Real Madrid star found himself behind even Toby Collyer - now on loan at West Brom - in Manchester United's midfield hierarchy according to manager Amorim. His situation reached its nadir during May 2024's humiliating 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, where he was deployed as a centre-back and looked a shadow of the player who once dominated European football.
Following that disastrous performance, Carragher delivered his infamous verdict: 'Leave football before football leaves you.' The Liverpool legend added: 'I think Casemiro, very seriously, should know tonight, as an experienced professional, that he only has another three games left at the highest level. He has to leave everything at this level of football and move on.'
The situation deteriorated further when Casemiro was omitted from United's FA Cup final lineup against Manchester City, with Ten Hag preferring Kobbie Mainoo and Scott McTominay in midfield. The Brazilian reportedly celebrated the victory only briefly before leaving early to join his family, with many speculating his time at Old Trafford was over.
The Remarkable Resurgence
However, against all odds, Casemiro began his renaissance during United's Europa League campaign. Impressive performances against Lyon - where he provided the winning assist for Harry Maguire - and Athletic Bilbao, where he scored, were followed by a colossal display against Manchester City.
In that derby match, the seemingly fallen giant made more tackles than any player has managed against Pep Guardiola's team since the Spaniard took charge in 2016. The statistics underline his importance: in the 553 minutes Casemiro has played for United this season, the Red Devils have conceded a goal every 110.6 minutes. When he's absent, that figure plummets to just 31.54 minutes per goal conceded.
Ancelotti's appointment as Brazil manager proved crucial to the revival. The Italian, who reportedly shed a tear when Casemiro left Real Madrid for United in 2022, immediately recalled the midfielder with whom he won three Champions League titles. Since then, Casemiro has featured in every match under Ancelotti's leadership.
Managerial Praise and Future Prospects
When questioned about the 33-year-old's impact, Ancelotti told Daily Mail Sport: 'He has done very well. He is the most important player for the team's balance when we have the ball. He is very intelligent tactically. He has a lot of quality. He is very important as a team leader and a very important player for us.'
Amorim echoed these sentiments, revealing: 'At the beginning he was behind all the midfielders, even Toby [Collyer]. But he fought and worked, and now he has returned to the national team. The other guys have to look at Casemiro and understand that football can change very quickly.'
With his contract at Old Trafford expiring at season's end, questions remain about his future. Yet if his redemption has proven anything, it's that you can never write off a five-time Champions League winner. As the old football adage goes: form is temporary, but class is permanent.
