Jamie Carragher says Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is now a “completely different player” as he bids farewell to Old Trafford at the end of the season.

The Brazilian veteran, who turns 34 later this month, reflects on the past years Manchester United record another dramatic win over Fulham on Sunday. Casemiro scored with a header in United’s first game and then set up Matheus Cunha’s goal with a no-look pass.

Casemiro, who started all three games under Carrick, announced his departure from Old Trafford last month, ending a four-year spell. Carragher famously criticized Casemiro after United’s 4-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in May 2024, suggesting the midfielder was no longer good enough to compete at the highest level.

“I think Casemiro should know tonight that he only has three games left in the top flight,” Carragher said at the time.

“The next two league and cup finals, then he should be thinking, I need to go to MLS or Saudi Arabia.

“This has to stop because we are watching one of the greatest players of the modern era. I always remember the saying ‘leave football before football leaves you’. Football has left him. At this top level, he needs to finish the day at this level and leave.”

Now, with the five-time Champions League champions clearly enjoying a renaissance, Carragher says Casemiro deserves huge credit for his transformation.

“It’s fair to say football hasn’t left him,” Carragher said in an interview. Super Sunday Overtime.

“When you think about his performances in the Premier League this season, not just at home against Fulham, you think about his performances last week away at Arsenal and at home against Manchester City.

“If Casemiro wants to come back and say to me, ‘Leave the experts before they leave you, he has every right to do that!’ He can absolutely bring one of those back. To his credit, he looks like a completely different player.

“He physically looks like a different player as well. Even when I say that, you look at him and he looks like an old man who is coming to the end of his playing career.

“Whether he’s relaxed a little bit or whether he’s become very professional now, physically he looks completely different.”

Casemiro performs well for Manchester United

Analysis from Sky Sports’ William Bitterbilli:

“Casemiro is just one goal away from returning to his most goalscoring season in the league.

“After announcing he would be leaving at the end of the season, he was very busy on a farewell tour and looked back on his years in charge under Michael Carrick.

“His first goal set the tone and his blind assist for Matheus Cunha reflected the confidence he brought into the game. Carrick noted how his “presence” and experience has been important since he took over as interim coach.

“A five-time Champions League winner, his reputation has taken a bit of a hit since arriving on these shores; however, the Brazil international remains a fan of the manager.

“With his 34th birthday approaching, any suggestion that he should be involved in United’s plans beyond this season would be wrong. But on the other hand, along with Bryant Mainu, he remains an important cog in Carrick’s machine.

“Casemiro is often considered the anchor of the midfield, thanks to his time at Real Madrid where he was a well-known water carrier for Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.

“However, for Manchester United he proved to be a more complete player, showing a willingness to break down defenses with forward passes, so he came into the final third against Fulham.

“As well as his goal contribution, suddenly Casemiro appears to be a player United can rely on again. This is a return to the player United signed from Real Madrid for £70m in 2022.”

“There have been many reports of an overhaul of Manchester United’s midfield this summer, but the void left by Casemiro’s impending departure and the boots that need to be filled are growing by the day.”