Gary Neville has criticised Manchester United's decision to spend £140 million on Casemiro, arguing the midfielder would not be signed by the club today. The former United defender highlighted the transfer fee and wages as an example of the club's flawed recruitment strategy.
Casemiro, who joined from Real Madrid nearly four years ago, agreed personal terms of around £350,000 per week. Neville noted that United invested £60 million in a transfer fee and £20 million in wages over four years, only to lose the 34-year-old on a free transfer this summer.
Despite Casemiro's recent resurgence, scoring seven goals this season and heading United into the lead against Aston Villa, Neville insisted the deal was not a sound investment. He said: 'If you're shelling out £140m over four years, you'd anticipate some sort of return at the end of it, it's not a deal that Man United would agree to today.'
Neville added that Casemiro had given his all but his legs had let him down, though he acknowledged the Brazilian looked fitter and more liberated this season. He also claimed the rumour was that Casemiro 'couldn't believe' the money offered by United and felt he had to accept.
United are now planning to reinvest the £18 million annual wage savings into the squad, with two central midfield additions targeted for the summer. Despite fan chants for Casemiro to stay 'one more year', no internal conversations have taken place about retaining him.
