Video: Casemiro reveals he almost pulled out of move to Manchester United | OneFootball

Casemiro has claimed that an unexpected reaction from his former boss, Carlo Ancelotti, almost made him back out of his move to Manchester United at the last minute in August 2022.

The Brazilian decided to stick to his word and enjoyed a fantastic debut season where he played 51 times, scoring seven goals and creating six more.

The five-time Champions League winner even netted the opening goal in the Carabao Cup final, which he was instrumental in, as United claimed their first silverware since 2017.

Sadly, this season has been a disaster and the midfielder has looked a shadow of his former self. The player has even admitted that his form has given him “sleepless nights”.

However, in an interview with El Chiringuito, the Brazilian revealed there was a moment when he almost didn’t go through with the move.

When asked about his move from Madrid he claimed, “It was very simple but also very complicated”.

“I wanted to live new things and I’d won everything. I had it clear that I wanted new things. I wanted to learn a new language, and try a different league. United have treated me very well since the beginning”.

Defending the reasons behind his move to England in the summer of 2022 he added, “I was at a good age to leave. I had the energy to go and the desire to learn. It wasn’t to get a big contract. I wanted to compete, keep growing, transmit my values. Continue winning”.

However, Casemiro did admit that things weren’t so easy at the end of his move.

“It wasn’t so easy at the end. People didn’t let me leave so easily”.

The 32-year-old then revealed the exact moment that he thought he would not go through with the massive transfer.

“I am going to tell you something I have never told anyone. I only had a doubt one time about coming to Manchester”.

“I remember it was a Friday, almost everything was done (with United). Only the signature was missing”.

“I went to speak to Ancelotti. I went into his office and when I turned around, he was crying. Ancelotti was crying. He said to me ‘I love you a lot and I don’t want you to go'”.

He explained that it was at this moment that he almost pulled out of the move claiming that “that was a moment where I said ‘calm'”.

“Here people love me a lot. But it was already done. I had given my word. That is more important than any other thing”.

Unfortunately, the blockbuster move has probably not worked out the way anybody wanted, including the Brazilian, as United have been far from winning and being competitive in the league or Champions League.

New owners INEOS seem determined to sell the Brazilian this summer according to reports, with the objective of freeing up wage space for a younger, hungrier midfielder.

Nonetheless, whatever happens with Casemiro, United fans will always have that one season where he was immense and where one of this generation’s finest midfielders graced Old Trafford, even if it turns out to be fleeting.

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