Gary Neville has criticised Manchester United's recruitment strategy, using the £140 million spent on Casemiro in transfer fees and wages as a prime example of poor investment. The former United defender said the 34-year-old midfielder, who will leave the club for free this summer, would not be signed by the club today.
Casemiro has enjoyed a resurgence this season, scoring seven goals, including a header against Aston Villa on Sunday that boosted United's top-four hopes. Fans chanted for him to stay another year, but Neville argued the deal was not financially sound. 'They’ve invested £140m in Casemiro, £20m in wages and £60m in a fee, that’s not a clever move because they’re now losing him for nothing,' Neville said on his podcast.
Neville contrasted Casemiro's signing with United's current approach, which targets younger players with growth potential like Senne Lammens, Benjamin Sesko, and Bryan Mbeumo. He added that the club now avoids such high-risk deals. Meanwhile, United are planning to sell Manuel Ugarte, who was signed in 2024, as part of a midfield overhaul this summer.
United believe the savings of over £18 million a year from Casemiro's wages can be reinvested in new signings, with two central midfielders targeted. Despite calls for Casemiro to stay, no internal discussions have taken place about a U-turn, according to MEN Sport.
