Amorim ready to axe Ten Hag signing from his plans, INEOS would’ve never green-lit the deal

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·14. November 2024

Amorim ready to axe Ten Hag signing from his plans, INEOS would’ve never green-lit the deal

Despite a relatively successful maiden season at Manchester United, it’s safe to say INEOS would’ve never signed off on Casemiro’s arrival had they been at the helm when it was sanctioned.

Back in August 2022, United forked out a ludicrous £70 million to sign the then-30-year-old on a four-year deal – plus the option of an additional season to take his stay in Manchester until 2027. At the time, Roy Keane labelled his former club ‘desperate’ for endorsing such a transfer.

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A stalwart, dependable defensive midfielder was an absolute non-negotiable in that transfer window, and rather than taking a chance on a younger, less-proven alternative, they opted for one of the most decorated stars in the whole of Europe.

Casemiro posed as a solution to their longstanding woes in the middle of the park. He was able to get the job done, and his illustrious CV only backed up the sentiment. Had only they signed him a few years prior to when they did, they’d have been set for a solid few seasons.

Indeed, a formidable debut term in Manchester was followed by a dismal sophomore season. It became evident that Casemiro’s legs were just simply giving up on him, with the peak of his powers that we’d all witnessed so frequently at Real Madrid well behind him.

Adjusting to the pace of England’s top flight is a struggle for any player, and boy, did it catch up to him last year.

Casemiro could fall out of favour upon Kobbie Mainoo’s return from injury

(Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

It’s been a tumultuous ride for the Brazilian since then. A shaky blip at the beginning of 2024/2025 saw him dropped for a handful of fixtures, though he has since retained his place in the starting XI. That being said, it remains to be seen which of himself and Manuel Ugarte would’ve been pulled from the line-up to accommodate Kobbie Mainoo had he been available throughout Ruud van Nistelrooy’s brief interim spell.

According to a fresh report from Fichajes today, Ruben Amorim is unlikely to grant Casemiro the minutes he’s grown accustomed to over the past two-and-a-half seasons. Should that turn out to be the case when the new head coach officially takes to the dugout, it would raise questions over whether Casemiro’s one-year option will be activated in 2026.